S.B. 739 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 739
By: Ellis, Rodney
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1999, the 76th Texas Legislature established a newborn hearing
screening program in the State of Texas.  The legislation requires that a
screening test for hearing loss be administered to newborn children, and
establishes a newborn hearing, tracking, and screening program.  Data in
the tracking system is confidential as required by law.  S.B. 739
clarifies that aggregate data about performance measures and outcomes of
the program is not confidential and may be disclosed.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

S.B. 739 provides that statistical or aggregated information concerning
activities conducted under this chapter and that could not be used to
individually identify a newborn, infant, or patient or a parent or
guardian of a newborn, infant, or patient is not confidential. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.