MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH SERVICES
Joint Hearing on Privacy of Senate Economic Development
Committee and
Health Services Committee
Monday, May 15, 2000
10:00 a.m.
Senate Chamber
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health
Services was held on Monday, May 15, 2000, in the Senate Chamber
at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair Senator Drew Nixon
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Frank Madla
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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senator Nelson made opening remarks thanking Senator Sibley and
the Economic Development Committee for their willingness to jointly
investigate and offer recommendations to insure that privacy
protections are adequate and consistent in Texas. Senator Nelson also
applauded Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry for having the foresight to
assign this committee the interim of charge of reviewing and revising
our medical privacy laws.
Senator Sibley made opening remarks stating that the purpose for the
two committees to meet together to look at the privacy issue and how
it relates to insurance, banking and financial institutions, and
health insurance so that they can better understand the issues as not
to develop contridictory legisation next session. He stressed that he
wants to create a coherent body of law that makes sense to the
citizens of Texas. Senator Sibley thanked Senator Nelson for working
together on such an important issue.
Senator Nelson called for the witnesses for panel #1 to give an
overview on privacy issues.
The following persons provided written and oral testimony:
Carolyn Purcell, Department of Information Resources
Elizabeth Rogers, Vinson & Elkins
The following persons provided oral testimony:
John Ryan, Conference of State Bank Supervisors
Rebecca L. Payne, Attorney General's Office
There being no further questions of these witnesses, Senator
Nelson called the witnesses for panel #2 to give an overview on
health privacy issues.
The following persons provided written and oral testimony:
Steve Palmer, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America
Will Davis, Texas Association of Life and Health
Underwriters
Nicole Cooper, M.D., Texas Medical Association
Jim Jacobson, Disease Management Association of America
Lisa McGiffert, Consumers Union
A.G. Breitenstein, Self
There being no further questions of these witnesses, Senator
Nelson called for the witnesses for panel #3 to give an overview
on industry and commerce privacy issues.
The following person provided written and oral testimony:
J. Bradley Johnston, Temple-Inland Financial Services, Inc.
The following persons provided oral testimony:
Jeff Clark, Alliance for Responsible Information Practices
Karen Neeley, Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Rob Schneider, Consumers Union
There being no further business, at 2:20 p.m. Senator Nelson
recessed the Health Committee, subject to the call of the chair.
Senator Sibley announced that the Economic Development Committee
will stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
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Cheri Huddleston, Clerk