| 1 | 1 | | 86R7062 SOS-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Seliger S.B. No. 1750 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to certain confidential or privileged information related |
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| 8 | 8 | | to veterinary care or treatment. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 801.353, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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| 11 | 11 | | adding Subsections (d-2) and (f-1) and amending Subsection (g) to |
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| 12 | 12 | | read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (d-2) The privilege provided by this section is waived by |
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| 14 | 14 | | the client or the owner of the animal treated by the veterinarian |
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| 15 | 15 | | with respect to information regarding the animal's care and |
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| 16 | 16 | | treatment by the veterinarian that the client or owner publishes in |
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| 17 | 17 | | a public forum. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (f-1) A veterinarian does not violate this section by |
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| 19 | 19 | | providing to a veterinarian or an appropriate governmental entity |
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| 20 | 20 | | information regarding: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) the prescribing, dispensing, or requesting of a |
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| 22 | 22 | | controlled substance; or |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) cruelty to or an attack of an animal. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (g) A public health authority or other governmental entity |
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| 25 | 25 | | that receives information under Subsection (f) or (f-1) shall |
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| 26 | 26 | | maintain the confidentiality of the information, may not disclose |
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| 27 | 27 | | the information under Chapter 552, Government Code, and may not use |
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| 28 | 28 | | the information for a purpose that does not directly relate to law |
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| 29 | 29 | | enforcement or the protection of public health and safety. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 2. Section 801.353, Occupations Code, as amended by |
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| 31 | 31 | | this Act, applies only to the disclosure or release of information |
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| 32 | 32 | | under that section on or after the effective date of this Act. The |
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| 33 | 33 | | disclosure or release of information before that date is governed |
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| 34 | 34 | | by the law in effect on the date of the disclosure or release, and |
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| 35 | 35 | | the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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