78R12330 JD-F


By:  Wentworth                                                    S.B. No. 984

Substitute the following for S.B. No. 984:                                    

By:  McReynolds                                               C.S.S.B. No. 984



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to excepting certain governmental bodies from 
deliberating in an open meeting certain matters that involve the 
medical or psychiatric records of an individual.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 551, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 551.0785 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.0785.  DELIBERATIONS INVOLVING MEDICAL OR 
PSYCHIATRIC RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS.  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:
		(1)  the medical records or psychiatric records of an 
individual applicant for a benefit from the plan; or
		(2)  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.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.