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|  | AN ACT | 
|  | relating to the authority of an administrative law judge to order | 
|  | the release of certain information relating to a child abuse and | 
|  | neglect investigation. | 
|  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
|  | SECTION 1.  Section  261.201, Family Code, is amended by | 
|  | adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: | 
|  | (b-1)  On a motion of one of the parties in a contested case | 
|  | before an administrative law judge relating to the license or | 
|  | certification of a professional, as defined by Section 261.101(b), | 
|  | or an educator, as defined by Section 5.001, Education Code, the | 
|  | administrative law judge may order the disclosure of information | 
|  | that is confidential under this section that relates to the matter | 
|  | before the administrative law judge after a hearing for which | 
|  | notice is provided as required by Subsection (b)(2) and making the | 
|  | review and determination required by Subsection (b)(3).  Before the | 
|  | department may release information under this subsection, the | 
|  | department must edit the information to protect the confidentiality | 
|  | of the identity of any person who makes a report of abuse or | 
|  | neglect. | 
|  | 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, 2009. | 
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|  | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | 
|  | President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | 
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|  | I certify that H.B. No. 2876 was passed by the House on May 1, | 
|  | 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not | 
|  | voting. | 
|  |  | 
|  | ______________________________ | 
|  | Chief Clerk of the House | 
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|  | I certify that H.B. No. 2876 was passed by the Senate on May | 
|  | 21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
|  |  | 
|  | ______________________________ | 
|  | Secretary of the Senate | 
|  | APPROVED:  _____________________ | 
|  | Date | 
|  |  | 
|  | _____________________ | 
|  | Governor |