SRC-AMY S.B. 984 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 984 By: Wentworth State Affairs 8-6-2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, the Open Meetings Act requires a benefits appeals committee for a public self-funded health plan to deliberate the medical or psychiatric records of an individual applicant in a public meeting. S.B. 984 makes an exemption to the open meetings requirement for such deliberations in order to protect confidential medical information of an applicant for coverage under a self-funded health plan or a public insurance, health, or retirement plan administered by a governmental body. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, by adding Section 551.0785, as follows: Sec. 551.0785. DELIBERATIONS INVOLVING MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS. Provides that this chapter does not require a benefits appeals committee for a public self-funded health plan or a governmental body that administers a public insurance, health, or retirement plan to conduct an open meeting to deliberate the medical or psychiatric records of an individual applicant for a benefit from the plan or a matter that includes a consideration of information in the medical or psychiatric records of an individual applicant for a benefit from the plan. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.