S.B. No. 652
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the maintenance of emergency contact and medical
  information databases by the Department of Public Safety of the
  State of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.060 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.060.  EMERGENCY CONTACT AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
  DATABASES. (a)  The department shall maintain in its files a
  record of the name, address, and telephone number of each
  individual identified by the holder of a driver's license or
  personal identification certificate as an individual the holder
  authorizes to be contacted in the event that the holder is injured
  or dies in or as a result of a vehicular accident or another
  emergency situation. In addition, the department shall maintain in
  its files a record of any medical information described by Section
  521.125(a) that is provided to the department under Subsection (c)
  or any health condition information that is voluntarily provided to
  the department under Section 521.142(h).
         (b)  A record maintained by the department under Subsection
  (a) is confidential and, on request, may be disclosed:
               (1)  only to a peace officer in this or another state;
               (2)  only if the peace officer is otherwise authorized
  to obtain information in the driver's license or personal
  identification certificate files of the department; and
               (3)  only for the purpose, as applicable, of making
  contact with a named individual to report the injury to or death of
  the holder of the driver's license or personal identification
  certificate, learning the nature of any medical information
  reported by the person who holds the driver's license or
  identification certificate, or learning whether the person who
  holds the driver's license or identification certificate has a
  health condition that may impede communications with the peace
  officer.
         (c)  An application for an original, renewal, or duplicate
  driver's license or personal identification certificate must:
               (1)  be designed to allow, but not require, the
  applicant to provide:
                     (A)  the name, address, and telephone number of
  not more than two individuals to be contacted if the applicant is
  injured or dies in a circumstance described by Subsection (a); and
                     (B)  in addition to health condition information
  voluntarily provided under Section 521.142(h), medical information
  described by Section 521.125(a); and
               (2)  include a statement that:
                     (A)  describes the confidential nature of the
  information; and
                     (B)  states that by providing the department with
  the information, the applicant consents to the limited disclosure
  and use of the information.
         (d)  The department shall establish and maintain on the
  department's Internet website forms and procedures by which the
  holder of a driver's license or personal identification certificate
  may request that the department:
               (1)  add specific emergency contact or medical
  information described by Subsection (a) to the appropriate file
  maintained by the department; or
               (2)  amend or delete emergency contact or medical
  information the holder previously provided to the department.
         (e)  The forms and procedures maintained under Subsection
  (d) must comply with Subsection (c).
         (f)  Subsection (b) does not prohibit the department from
  disclosing information to the holder of a driver's license or
  personal identification certificate who provided the information
  or to an authorized agent of the holder.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
         (b)  The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas
  shall implement the provisions of Section 521.060, Transportation
  Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2010.
         (c)  The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas
  shall implement Section 521.060, Transportation Code, as added by
  this Act, using existing personnel.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 652 passed the Senate on
  April 20, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 652 passed the House on
  May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor