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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the confidentiality of working papers and electronic |
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communications of administrative law judges and appeals judges |
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under the workers' compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 410, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 410.008 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 410.008. CONFIDENTIALITY OF WORKING PAPERS AND |
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ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES AND APPEALS |
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JUDGES. The following working papers and electronic communications |
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of an administrative law judge or appeals judge created in |
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connection with conducting contested case hearings or appeals to |
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the appeals panel are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
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Government Code: |
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(1) notes and electronic communications recording the |
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observations, thoughts, questions, deliberations, or impressions |
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of an administrative law judge or appeals judge; |
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(2) drafts of a decision; and |
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(3) drafts of an order. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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document or electronic communication created by an administrative |
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law judge or appeals judge before, on, or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |