88R7374 KKR-F
By: Turner H.B. No. 2534
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the confidentiality of working papers and electronic
communications of administrative law judges and appeals judges
under the workers' compensation system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 410, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 410.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 410.008. CONFIDENTIALITY OF WORKING PAPERS AND
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES AND APPEALS
JUDGES. The following working papers and electronic communications
of an administrative law judge or appeals judge created in
connection with conducting contested case hearings or appeals to
the appeals panel are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code:
(1) notes and electronic communications recording the
observations, thoughts, questions, deliberations, or impressions
of an administrative law judge or appeals judge;
(2) drafts of a decision; and
(3) drafts of an order.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
document or electronic communication created by an administrative
law judge or appeals judge before, on, or after the effective date
of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.