Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

STATE AFFAIRS
Issues
FFAIRS/Public Information & Privacy
77 th Texas Legislature
Release of Medical Records to the Family of a Deceased Patient - H.B. 964
by Representative Dunnam
Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Amends the Occupations Code to clarify that confidential medical information of a deceased patient may be
released with the written consent of, among others, a representative appointed by a court to represent the
estate of the patient, a surviving spouse, parent, sibling, or adult child, or a person acting on behalf of a
surviving minor child including a managing conservator or an attorney representing the child.
Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act - H.B. 1544
by Representative Uher, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Moncrief
A provision of the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act allows personal information, if an individual
consents, to be made available for release to bulk distributors, marketing systems, researchers for
statistical information, or employers or insurers of employers to obtain or verify information relating to a
holder of a commercial driver's license.
Makes it a Class B misdemeanor if a person uses certain information from motor vehicle accident records,
emergency communication records, dispatch logs, or towing records to directly solicit business or
employment for pecuniary gain.
Prohibits a person who has illegally disclosed personal information under the Motor Vehicle Records
Disclosure Act from receiving personal information governed by this Act.
Sets forth additional provisions relating to fees for and enforcement of resale or redisclosure of personal
information.
Texas State Bar to Provide Online Access to Attorney Profiles - H.B. 1712
by Representatives Maxey and Wilson
Senate Sponsor: Senator West
Requires the Texas State Bar to create an online profile of each attorney licensed by the state bar.
Sets out what the profile must include, such as the name of each law school attended and the date the
attorney graduated, the date the attorney became licensed to practice law in Texas, any specialty
certification, and any public disciplinary sanctions issued by the bar against the attorney during at least the
10-year period preceding the date of the profile.
Requires the bar to annually update the information contained in an attorney's profile.
Senate Research Center 290