BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 570 By: Moncrief (McDonald et al.) 05-02-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Under current law, the Health Professions Council is a coordinating entity for the health professions licensing boards; it provides a single portal through which consumers can make complaints against licensees. The law includes provisions for receiving and processing complaints of a professional licensed by one of the boards under the Council. However, there is no provision to ensure the confidentiality of any information regarding a complaint received by the Council. PURPOSE S.B. 570 would require confidentiality of complaint information in the possession of the Health Professions Council. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2, Article 4512p, Revised Statutes, by adding Subsection (c), as follows: (c) Provides that all complaints, adverse reports, and other complaint information received or gathered by the Health Professions Council (council) relating to anyone initiating a complaint or the licensed professional against whom the complaint is made are privileged and confidential and not subject to legal compulsion for their release to anyone other than persons related (as specified) to the council or the appropriate agency or regulating board. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 570 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a public hearing on May 2, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV, and 3 absent.