1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the validity of an authorization to disclose health
 1-3     care information.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 241.152(b), Health and Safety Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  A disclosure authorization to a hospital is valid only
 1-8     if it:
 1-9                 (1)  is in writing;
1-10                 (2)  is dated and signed by the patient or the
1-11     patient's legally authorized representative;
1-12                 (3)  identifies the information to be disclosed; [and]
1-13                 (4)  identifies the person or entity to whom the
1-14     information is to be disclosed; and
1-15                 (5)  is not contained in the same document that
1-16     contains the consent to medical treatment obtained from the
1-17     patient.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-19     applies only to the disclosure of health care information on or
1-20     after that date.  The disclosure of health care information before
1-21     the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
1-22     the date of disclosure, and the former law is continued in effect
1-23     for that purpose.
1-24           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2827 was passed by the House on April
         23, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2827 was passed by the Senate on May
         13, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor