AN ACT
 1-1     relating to standards for utilization review.
 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-3           SECTION 1.  Section 4, Article 21.58A, Insurance Code, is
 1-4     amended by adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:
 1-5           (o)  A utilization review agent may not require, as a
 1-6     condition of treatment approval or for any other reason, the
 1-7     observation of a psychotherapy session or the submission or review
 1-8     of a mental health therapist's process or progress notes.
 1-9     Notwithstanding this subsection, a utilization review agent may
1-10     require submission of a patient's medical record summary.
1-11           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-12     applies only to a utilization review conducted on or after that
1-13     date.
1-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 569 passed the Senate on
         April 14, 1999, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate concurred
         in House amendment on May 17, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 569 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 12, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor