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.