Sec. 58.0052. INTERAGENCY SHARING OF CERTAIN NONEDUCATIONAL RECORDS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Juvenile justice agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 58.101.

(2) "Juvenile service provider" has the meaning assigned by Section 58.0051.

(3) "Multi-system youth" means a person who:

(A) is younger than 19 years of age; and

(B) has received services from two or more juvenile service providers.

(4) "Personal health information" means personally identifiable information regarding a multi-system youth's physical or mental health or the provision of or payment for health care services, including case management services, to a multi-system youth. The term does not include clinical psychological notes or substance abuse treatment information.

(b) Subject to Subsection (c), at the request of a juvenile service provider, another juvenile service provider shall disclose to that provider a multi-system youth's personal health information or a history of governmental services provided to the multi-system youth, including:

(1) identity records;

(2) medical and dental records;

(3) assessment or diagnostic test results;

(4) special needs;

(5) program placements;

(6) psychological diagnoses; and

(7) other related records or information.

(b-1) In addition to the information provided under Subsection (b), the Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall coordinate and develop protocols for sharing with each other, on request, any other information relating to a multi-system youth necessary to:

(1) identify and coordinate the provision of services to the youth and prevent duplication of services;

(2) enhance rehabilitation of the youth; and

(3) improve and maintain community safety.

(b-2) At the request of the Department of Family and Protective Services or a single source continuum contractor who contracts with the department to provide foster care services, a state or local juvenile justice agency shall share with the department or contractor information in the possession of the juvenile justice agency that is necessary to improve and maintain community safety or that assists the department or contractor in the continuation of services for or providing services to a multi-system youth who is or has been in the custody or control of the juvenile justice agency.

(b-3) At the request of a state or local juvenile justice agency, the Department of Family and Protective Services or a single source continuum contractor who contracts with the department to provide foster care services shall, not later than the 14th business day after the date of the request, share with the juvenile justice agency information in the possession of the department or contractor that is necessary to improve and maintain community safety or that assists the agency in the continuation of services for or providing services to a multi-system youth who:

(1) is or has been in the temporary or permanent managing conservatorship of the department;

(2) is or was the subject of a family-based safety services case with the department;

(3) has been reported as an alleged victim of abuse or neglect to the department;

(4) is the perpetrator in a case in which the department investigation concluded that there was a reason to believe that abuse or neglect occurred; or

(5) is a victim in a case in which the department investigation concluded that there was a reason to believe that abuse or neglect occurred.

(c) A juvenile service provider may disclose personally identifiable information under this section only for the purposes of:

(1) identifying a multi-system youth;

(2) coordinating and monitoring care for a multi-system youth; and

(3) improving the quality of juvenile services provided to a multi-system youth.

(d) To the extent that this section conflicts with another law of this state with respect to confidential information held by a governmental agency, this section controls.

(e) A juvenile service provider may establish an internal protocol for sharing information with other juvenile service providers as necessary to efficiently and promptly disclose and accept the information. The protocol may specify the types of information that may be shared under this section without violating federal law, including any federal funding requirements. A juvenile service provider may enter into a memorandum of understanding with another juvenile service provider to share information according to the juvenile service provider's protocols. A juvenile service provider shall comply with this section regardless of whether the juvenile service provider establishes an internal protocol or enters into a memorandum of understanding under this subsection unless compliance with this section violates federal law.

(f) This section does not affect the confidential status of the information being shared. The information may be released to a third party only as directed by a court order or as otherwise authorized by law. Personally identifiable information disclosed to a juvenile service provider under this section is not subject to disclosure to a third party under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(g) This section does not affect the authority of a governmental agency to disclose to a third party for research purposes information that is not personally identifiable as provided by the governmental agency's protocol.

(h) A juvenile service provider that requests information under this section shall pay a fee to the disclosing juvenile service provider in the same amounts charged for the provision of public information under Subchapter F, Chapter 552, Government Code, unless:

(1) a memorandum of understanding between the requesting provider and the disclosing provider:

(A) prohibits the payment of a fee;

(B) provides for the waiver of a fee; or

(C) provides an alternate method of assessing a fee;

(2) the disclosing provider waives the payment of the fee; or

(3) disclosure of the information is required by law other than this subchapter.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 653 (S.B. 1106), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2011.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 206), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 746 (S.B. 1304), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1021 (H.B. 1521), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 131 (H.B. 1760), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.