BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.H.B. 921
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the lack of useful interaction and data sharing among state agencies has become a hindrance to efficient governance and to state services provided to Texas residents.
C.S.H.B. 921 establishes an interagency information sharing pilot program and creates the Texas Health Care Policy Council (council). This bill requires the council, in consultation with the Department of Information Resources, to develop standards for the secure electronic sharing of information between participating agencies. C.S.H.B. 921 provides that this pilot program expires September 1, 2013.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 2054.096(a), Government Code, to require that each agency strategic plan be consistent with the state strategic plan and include certain information, including a statement of how the agency has implemented any applicable data sharing standards developed under Subchapter B, Chapter 113, Health and Safety Code, and to make a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 113, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 1016, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, by designating Sections 113.001 through 113.014 as Subchapter A, and adds a heading, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER A. TEXAS HEALTH CARE POLICY COUNCIL
SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 113, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 1016, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, by adding Subchapter B, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B. INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SHARING PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 113.051. DEFINITION. Defines "participating agency."
Sec. 113.052. DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION SHARING STANDARDS; PUBLICATION. (a) Requires the Texas Health Care Policy Council (council), in consultation with the Department of Information Resources (DIR), to develop standards for the secure sharing of information electronically among participating agencies.
(b) Requires the data sharing standards developed by the council under this section to require a participating agency to comply with any federal or state law relating to the security and confidentiality of the information maintained or received by the agency, ensure the security of personally identifiable information and the protection of personally identifiable information from inappropriate release, and include strategies for sharing information and procedures for transferring information.
(c) Requires DIR to publish the standards for data sharing on DIR's Internet website and to notify the presiding officer of each house of the legislature of the publication of the data sharing standards.
(d) Authorizes the presiding officer of the council to appoint work groups consisting of council members and representatives of participating agencies for any purpose consistent with the duties of the council under this subchapter.
(e) Requires the council to identify other state agencies with relevant expertise and related projects, and authorizes the council to appoint representatives of those agencies to work groups as appropriate.
Sec. 113.053. SHARING INFORMATION AMONG PARTICIPATING AGENCIES. Requires a participating agency, in developing, procuring, and maintaining electronic and information resource systems, to conform to common client information interchange standards developed by the council whenever possible and practicable to allow for the secure sharing of information among participating agencies to identify and coordinate the provision of necessary services to individuals in the state, while ensuring the protection of personally identifiable information from inappropriate release.
Sec. 113.054. CONTINUITY OF CARE THROUGH INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SHARING. (a) Requires the council to coordinate the development of a system for ensuring that health care providers serving clients of state programs that provide health and social services receive information about past client encounters and client health information to support the client's continuity of care, subject to funds appropriated for this purpose.
(b) Requires the system described in Subsection (a) to comply with all state and federal medical privacy laws and regulations.
(c) Provides that the initial focus of the interagency information sharing system described by Subsection (a) should be the continuity of care for inmates being admitted to or discharged from Texas Youth Commission facilities.
Sec. 113.055. EVALUATION OF INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SHARING. Requires the council, in consultation with DIR, to perform certain tasks relating to the evaluation of interagency information sharing.
Sec. 113.056. USE OF DATA. Prohibits information gathered or shared under this subchapter from being used to enforce Title 8 (Aliens and Nationality) of the United States Code.
Sec. 113.057. EXPIRATION. Provides that this subchapter expires September 1, 2013.
SECTION 4. Requires the council to publish the standards required by Section 113.052, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2008.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.