Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1574 amends provisions of the Labor Code relating to the administration and regulation of the state's workers' compensation insurance system. The bill clarifies that the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission's medical advisor can share with the medical quality review panel information that is otherwise restricted by law regarding a doctor who applies for registration or is registered with the commission on the list of approved doctors. It also clarifies provisions granting immunity from suit and civil liability to a person who serves on a medical quality review panel and protecting the confidentiality of information collected, assembled, or developed by the medical advisor or medical quality review panel. It authorizes the commission and the State Board of Medical Examiners to share confidential information about a licensed doctor, exempts that information from disclosure under most circumstances, and requires the agencies to cooperate and assist each other in an agency investigating by sharing information relevant to that investigation. The bill includes similar provisions for information sharing by the commission and the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. It requires both boards and the commission to provide information to each other on all disciplinary actions taken and on certain acts or omissions by a physician or chiropractor. Finally, the bill establishes the state average weekly wage for the 2004 and 2005 state fiscal years.