87R18374 JCG-F
 
  By: Anderson, Guillen, Stucky, Buckley, H.B. No. 3442
      Rogers, et al.
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3442:
 
  By:  Cyrier C.S.H.B. No. 3442
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to complaints filed with the State Board of Veterinary
  Medical Examiners.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 801.207, Occupations Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (b-1),
  (b-2), and (b-3) to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections (b-1) and (b-2), each
  [Each] complaint, investigation file and record, and other
  investigation report and all other investigative information in the
  possession of or received or gathered by the board or the board's
  employees or agents relating to a license holder, an application
  for license, or a criminal investigation or proceeding is
  privileged and confidential and is not subject to discovery,
  subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for release to anyone
  other than the board or the board's employees or agents involved in
  discipline of a license holder.
         (b-1)  The board shall provide a copy of each complaint to
  the license holder who is the subject of the complaint not later
  than the 14th day before the date any response is due, unless
  providing a copy of the complaint would jeopardize an
  investigation. The board may not require the license holder to
  request a copy of the complaint.
         (b-2)  The board shall provide to the complainant a copy of
  any response to the complaint the license holder provides not later
  than the 14th day after the date the board receives the response,
  unless providing the copy would jeopardize an investigation or the
  act alleged in the complaint is not under the board's jurisdiction.  
  If the board provides a copy of a response to a complainant, the
  board shall include with the copy notice of the complainant's
  opportunity to rebut the license holder's response.
         (b-3)  The board is not required to provide a copy of the
  complaint under Subsection (b-1) or a license holder's response
  under Subsection (b-2) for a complaint initiated by the board.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the [The] board
  shall protect the identity of a complainant to the extent possible.
         SECTION 2.  Section 801.207, Occupations Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to a complaint filed with the State Board of
  Veterinary Medical Examiners on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A complaint filed with the board before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the complaint
  was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.