Source: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/openrecords/49cornyn/orl/2000/htm/or200002846.htm
Timestamp: 2016-12-03 09:43:41
Document Index: 179943701

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 552', '§ 11', '§ 552', '§ 48', '§ 48', '§ 159', '§ 303', '§ 405', '§ 160', '§ 151', '§ 151', '§ 160', '§ 161', '§ 161', '§ 161', '§ 161', '§ 611', '§ 595', '§ 595', '§ 595', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 417', '§ 710', '§ 773', '§ 231']

which, in part, involve a clarification of the scope of the request. See Gov't Code § 552.304. These comments state in pertinent part that "the information sought by the Requestor can be
49.25, § 11. Thus, the department must release to the requestor the responsive information
anticipated on the date that the information is requested. Gov't Code § 552.103(c). We note
pursuant to section 48.101(a) of the Human Resources Code.(7) Consequently, the information must not be disclosed to the public, except for a purpose consistent with chapter 48 of the Human Resources Code, or as provided by department rule or federal law. See Hum. Res. Code § 48.101(b). See also § 48.101(c), (d), (e), (f) (permitting release of confidential information in certain circumstances). As you have not indicated an applicable rule that
none of these exceptions appears to apply in this instance. See Occ. Code §§ 159.003, .004. We therefore conclude you must withhold the information from the requestor.(9)
provision, none of which appears to apply in this instance. See Occ. Code § 303.007.
administrative or a clinical death review procedure. See 25 T.A.C. § 405.261 et. seq. You also advise that one document (exhibit "EE-2") was derived from the peer review of a
Occ. Code § 160.005. Section 161.032 of the Health and Safety Code states:
care services . . . ." Occ. Code § 151.002(a)(7). A medical peer review committee is "a
services[.] . . . ." Occ. Code § 151.002(a)(8). Section 160.007 of the MPA states that,
committee is privileged." Occ. Code § 160.007.
§ 161.031(a)(1),(6),(7). The term includes a committee appointed ad hoc to conduct a
specific investigation. Health & Safety Code § 161.031(b). Section 161.032 provides that
to disclosure under Chapter 552. See Health & Safety Code § 161.032(a).
Occupations Code](11) do not apply to records made or maintained in the regular course of business by a hospital, health maintenance organization, medical organization, university medical center or health science center, or extended care facility." Health & Safety Code § 161.032(b); see Memorial Hosp.-the Woodlands v. McCown, 927 S.W.2d 1, 10 (Tex. 1996) (stating that reference to statutory predecessor to section 160.007 in section 161.032 is clear signal that records should be accorded the same treatment under both statutes in determining if they were made in regular course of business). In Barnes v. Whittington, 751 S.W.2d 493,496 (Tex. 1988), the Texas Supreme Court indicated that "routinely accumulated
Health and Safety Code § 611.002. Section 611.001 defines a "professional" as (1) a person
Health and Safety Code § 595.001. We have identified records which we believe are
permitted by department rule. See Health and Safety Code § 595.003. However, we have
whom the record was made," which is clearly not applicable in this instance. See id. §
these exceptions appears to apply. See id. §§ 595.005 et seq. Therefore, the department must not release to the requestor the records we have identified as being subject to section
documents. See Gov't Code §§ 552.301, .302. In addition, it appears that at least some of
this information previously was released to the public. See Gov't Code § 552.007(b) (unless
3. We have made every effort in this decision to address every document you have submitted that is indicated to consist of or contain responsive information. We note that you did not label exhibits "C-1," "D-4," "D-6," "F-4," "L-3," "V-1," "W-1," "CC-7," "LL-1," or "NN-2." We additionally note that you apparently did not submit exhibits "A-2," "A-7," or "I-8." Also, a number of the exhibits were incorrectly marked, as follows: exhibit "CC-5" was submitted with the label "A-7," exhibit "BB-1" was labeled as "J-1," exhibit "B-1" was labeled as "D-1," exhibit "B-3" was labeled as "M-1," exhibit "CC-5" was labeled as "A-7," exhibit "DD-1" was labeled as "CC-3," and exhibit "G-1" was labeled as "II-4." Finally, as discussed below, your comments and arguments do not specifically address some of the exhibits that were properly submitted. See Gov't Code § 552.301(e)(1)(A), (2). These numerous errors in your submission to this office evidently relate to the fact that you submitted voluminous documents that you were compelled to prepare for our review within a short time frame. We note that the submitted information includes multiple copies of the same types of documents that were evidently created and maintained under the same types of circumstances. We advise that in such circumstances where the requested information is voluminous, the Public Information Act specifically allows the department to submit to this office representative samples of the responsive information. See Gov't Code § 552.301(e)(1)(D). We encourage the department, where appropriate, to avail itself of this provision in future requests to this office.
6. We do not separately address your section 552.101 assertion with reference to the information that this decision concludes is excepted under section 552.103. However, we note that the records at issue contain information that is confidential by law, and which therefore must not be released even at the conclusion of the litigation. Gov't Code §§ 552.101, .352. Thus, if the department receives a future request for the information after the litigation concludes, and absent a previous determination from this office as to the confidentiality of the precise information at issue, you should again ask this office for a decision. The information the department may withhold under section 552.103 is found in exhibits "A-3," "A-4," "D-2," "F-2," "F-3," "H-2," "L-1," "M-1," "N-1," "O-1," "P-1," "Q-1," "R-1," "S-1," "T-1," "U-1," "V-1," "W-1," "X-1," "Y-1," "Z-1," "AA-1," and "HH-1."
7. See also 25 T.A.C. § 417.511 and 40 T.A.C. § 710.12 (reports, records, and working papers used by or developed in the investigative process and the resulting final report regarding abuse and neglect are confidential and may be released only as provided by applicable law and department rule).
10. In similar contexts, the legislature has used the term "privileged" to mean "confidential" when applied to communications. See Health & Safety Code § 773.091. See also Fam. Code § 231.108. (Confidentiality of Records and Privileged Communications).