Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 839	Senate Author:  Duncan
Effective:  9-1-07	House Sponsor:  Madden

            Senate Bill 839 amends the Health and Safety Code and Government Code to clarify which agencies may exchange medical information about persons under the care of the criminal justice system who have a mental impairment or who are elderly, physically disabled, terminally ill, or significantly ill for the purpose of ensuring continuity of care and services.  The bill sets out confidentiality provisions for the management of confidential information exchanged and makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a person to release or disclose certain confidential information obtained for purposes of continuity of care and services, except as authorized by law.