BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1543

By: Burkett

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that clients of a person who is licensed to fit and dispense hearing instruments or of a hearing instrument fitting and dispensing practice do not have adequate access to the client's own records of treatment by the person or practice. The goal of C.S.H.B. 1543 is to afford such a client the access to the client's records that other patients have with respect to their own medical records.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1543 amends the Occupations Code to entitle a client of a person who is licensed to fit and dispense hearing instruments or of a hearing instrument fitting and dispensing practice to obtain a copy of the client's records that pertain to the testing for, and fitting and dispensing of, hearing instruments by making a signed, written request to the license holder or practice for the records.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1543 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 402, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 402.354 to read as follows: Sec. 402.354.  CLIENT ACCESS TO RECORDS.  (a) A client of a person licensed to fit and dispense hearing instruments or of a hearing instrument fitting and dispensing practice is entitled to obtain a copy of the client's records that pertain to the testing for, and fitting and dispensing of, hearing instruments by making a signed, written request to the license holder or practice for the records. (b)  A license holder or practice may charge a reasonable processing fee for providing hearing instrument fitting and dispensing records to a client. The license holder or practice may provide the records in summary form unless the client specifically requests otherwise.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 402, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 402.354 to read as follows: Sec. 402.354.  CLIENT ACCESS TO RECORDS.  Same as introduced version. No equivalent provision.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.