By: Yarbrough H.B. No. 1594 73R5530 PB-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to confidentiality requirements for certain information 1-3 files maintained by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter C, Article 2, Texas Workers' Compensation 1-6 Act (Article 8308-2.31 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is 1-7 amended by adding Section 2.365 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 2.365. INVESTIGATION FILES CONFIDENTIAL. (a) 1-9 Information maintained in the investigation files of the commission 1-10 is confidential and may not be disclosed except: 1-11 (1) in a criminal proceeding; 1-12 (2) in a hearing conducted by the commission; 1-13 (3) on a judicial determination of good cause; or 1-14 (4) to a governmental agency, political subdivision, 1-15 or regulatory body if the disclosure is necessary or proper for the 1-16 enforcement of the laws of this or another state or of the United 1-17 States. 1-18 (b) Commission investigation files are not open records for 1-19 purposes of Chapter 424, Acts of the 63rd Legislature, Regular 1-20 Session, 1973 (Article 6252-17a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), 1-21 and its subsequent amendments. 1-22 (c) Information in an investigation file that is information 1-23 in or derived from a claim file is governed by the confidentiality 1-24 provisions relating to claim file information. 2-1 (d) For purposes of this section, "investigation file" means 2-2 any information compiled or maintained by the commission with 2-3 respect to a commission investigation authorized by law. 2-4 SECTION 2. This Act applies to information maintained in 2-5 investigation files of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission 2-6 without regard to the date the information is collected, compiled, 2-7 developed, or otherwise becomes a part of the investigation file. 2-8 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-13 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-14 passage, and it is so enacted.