Texas Government Code 531.854 – Use and Publication Restrictions; Confidentiality
(a) The commission may use or publish information under this subchapter only to advance statewide practices regarding the treatment and care of individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability. A summary of the data in the contracted organization’s reports or a statistical compilation of data reports may be released by the commission for general publication if the summary or statistical compilation does not contain any information that would permit the identification of an individual or that is confidential or privileged under this subchapter or other state or federal law.
(b) Information and records acquired by the contracted organization in the exercise of its duties under this subchapter are confidential and exempt from disclosure under the open records law, Chapter 552, and may be disclosed only as necessary to carry out the contracted organization’s duties.
Terms Used In Texas Government Code 531.854
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
(c) The identity of a person whose death was reviewed in accordance with this subchapter is confidential and may not be revealed.
(d) The identity of a health care provider or the name of a facility or agency that provided services to or was the residence of a person whose death was reviewed in accordance with this subchapter is confidential and may not be revealed.
(e) Reports, information, statements, memoranda, and other information furnished under this subchapter to the contracted organization and any findings or conclusions resulting from a review by the contracted organization are privileged.
(f) A contracted organization’s report of the findings of the independent mortality review conducted under this subchapter and any records developed by the contracted organization relating to the review:
(1) are confidential and privileged;
(2) are not subject to discovery or subpoena; and
(3) may not be introduced into evidence in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding.
(g) A member of the contracted organization’s review team may not testify or be required to testify in a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding as to observations, factual findings, or conclusions that were made in conducting a review under this subchapter.
Text of section effective until April 01, 2025