Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, H.B. No. 1126 (Uresti/Madla)
By: Madla S.R. No. 1082
SENATE RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, That Senate Rule 12.03 be suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on House Bill 1126 (emergency medical services vehicles and personnel and the collection and use of certain health-related data) to consider and take action on the following matter: Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the committee to add the following new SECTIONs to read as follows: SECTION 1. Section 104.042(e), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (e) Data received by the department under this section containing information identifying specific patients [persons or health care facilities] is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may not be released unless the [all identifying] information identifying the patient is removed. This subsection does not authorize the release of information that is confidential under Chapter 108. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 104.044 to read as follows: Sec. 104.044. SORTING COLLECTED DATA. (a) The department shall compile the health data collected under this subchapter and organize the results, to the extent possible, according to the following geographic areas: (1) the Texas-Mexico border region; (2) each public health region; (3) rural areas; (4) urban areas; (5) each county; and (6) the state. (b) Health data released under this subchapter must be released in accordance with the way it is compiled under this section. SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 191, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 191.008 to read as follows: Sec. 191.008. SORTING COLLECTED DATA. (a) The department shall compile the information relating to births, deaths, and fetal deaths collected under this chapter and organize the results, to the extent possible, according to the following geographic areas: (1) the Texas-Mexico border region; (2) each public health region; (3) rural areas; (4) urban areas; (5) each county; and (6) the state. (b) The department may release the information relating to births, deaths, and fetal deaths in accordance with the way it is compiled under this section. SECTION 8. The change in law made by this Act to Chapters 104 and 191, Health and Safety Code, applies only to the furnishing of data under Chapters 104 and 191, Health and Safety Code, or a rule adopted under that chapter that is originally required to be furnished on or after the effective date of this Act. The furnishing of data originally required to be furnished before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 9. The Department of State Health Services shall consult with a group of affected persons and entities to define rural and urban areas for purposes of Sections 104.044 and 191.008, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, including: (1) individuals with expertise in rural health services research, epidemiology, rural public health services delivery, demography, health planning, and large data sets; and (2) representatives from universities, the Department of State Health Services, the Office of Rural Community Affairs, area health education centers, and local and county health departments. Explanation: The changes are necessary to require the Department of State Health Services to compile and organize certain health and vital statistics related data by region, and to protect the confidentiality of the data collected. _______________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 29, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate