H.B. No. 1067
AN ACT
relating to a memorandum of understanding between certain
authorized entities to share suicide data that does not identify a
deceased individual.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to encourage the
prompt reporting of suicide data that does not name a deceased
individual and to encourage use of the data for instructive and
preventive purposes.
SECTION 2. Chapter 193, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 193.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 193.011. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON SUICIDE DATA.
(a) In this section, "authorized entity" means a medical examiner,
a local registrar, a local health authority, a local mental health
authority, a community mental health center, a mental health center
that acts as a collection agent for the suicide data reported by
community mental health centers, or any other political subdivision
of this state.
(b) An authorized entity may enter into a memorandum of
understanding with another authorized entity to share suicide data
that does not name a deceased individual. The shared data may
include:
(1) the deceased individual's date of birth, race or
national origin, gender, and zip code of residence;
(2) any school or college the deceased individual was
attending at the time of death;
(3) the suicide method used by the deceased
individual;
(4) the deceased individual's status as a veteran or
member of the armed services; and
(5) the date of the deceased individual's death.
(c) The suicide data an authorized entity receives or
provides under Subsection (b) is not confidential.
(d) An authorized entity that receives suicide data under a
memorandum of understanding authorized by this section may
periodically release suicide data that does not name a deceased
individual to an agency or organization with recognized expertise
in suicide prevention. The agency or organization may use suicide
data received by the agency or organization under this subsection
only for suicide prevention purposes.
(e) An authorized entity or an employee or agent of an
authorized entity is not civilly or criminally liable for receiving
or providing suicide data that does not name a deceased individual
and that may be shared under a memorandum of understanding
authorized by this section.
(f) This section does not prohibit the sharing of data as
authorized by other law.
SECTION 3. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1067 was passed by the House on April
22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 1, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1067 was passed by the Senate on May
12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor