Relating to a memorandum of understanding between certain authorized entities to share suicide data that does not identify a deceased individual.
Impact
By amending Chapter 193 of the Health and Safety Code, the bill lays out the framework for authorized entities to enter into agreements that facilitate the sharing of statistical data concerning suicides without revealing the identities of individuals involved. This ensures that crucial demographic information, such as age, gender, and method of suicide, can be analyzed and acted upon to improve mental health resources and outreach, ultimately aiming to curb the suicide rates in Texas.
Summary
House Bill 1067 focuses on enhancing the ability of authorized entities, such as medical examiners and mental health authorities, to share non-identifiable suicide data. The primary goal of the bill is to promote prompt reporting and utilize this data for educational and preventive purposes. This initiative is particularly vital in addressing the public health crisis related to suicides and supporting efforts aimed at mental health awareness and intervention strategies.
Contention
The bill's design inherently tackles the delicate balance between transparency in public health data and the safeguarding of individual privacy. While the sponsors believe that sharing aggregated data is essential for effectively responding to mental health crises, concerns may arise about the potential for misuse of this data or the stigmatization of affected groups. The bill attempts to address these issues by ensuring that the shared data is strictly statistical and does not compromise individual confidentiality, thereby aiming to reinforce trust among the communities served by these authorized entities.
Relating to the authority of individuals over the personal identifying information collected, processed, or maintained about the individuals and certain others by certain businesses.
Relating to a memorandum of understanding between public or private primary or secondary schools authorizing a school marshal of one school to act as a school marshal at the other school during an event at which both schools participate.
Relating to a memorandum of understanding between the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to assess the eligibility of certain inmates for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits on discharge or release from confinement.
Relating to the issuance of a driver's license or personal identification certificate to certain individuals and the use of the identification fee exemption account to fund the fee waivers for those individuals.
Relating to an individual's genetic data, including the use of that data by certain genetic testing companies for commercial purposes and the individual's property right in DNA; authorizing a civil penalty.
Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of the health and human services laws governing the Health and Human Services Commission, Medicaid, and other social services.
Relating to the capture and use of an individual's biometric identifiers, specimen, or genetic information by a governmental body or peace officer or by a person for commercial purposes; authorizing civil penalties.