By: Hancock S.B. No. 1520               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to certain duties of physicians regarding patient records.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 159.008, Occupations Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as   follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b) and   (c), a physician:                (1)  may charge a reasonable fee, as prescribed by   board rule, for copying billing or medical records; and                (2)  is not required to permit examination or copying   of the records until the fee is paid unless there is a medical   emergency.          (c)  A physician may not charge a fee for copying or   furnishing a copy of patient's billing or medical records to a   subsequent or consulting physician of the patient under Section   159.006(c) or to the patient in excess of:                (1)  for providing the requested records in paper   format, no charge for the first 50 pages and $0.10 per page   thereafter; or                (2)  for providing the requested records in electronic   format, no charge.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 159, Occupations Code, is amended by   adding Section 159.011 to read as follows:          Sec. 159.011.  NOTICE TO PATIENT OF PHYSICIAN RETIREMENT,   RELOCATION, OR TERMINATION.  (a)  The board by rule may require   that a physician notify the physician's patients before retiring,   relocating, or terminating employment and provide the patients the   opportunity to request copies of billing or medical records under   Section 159.006.          (b)  A contract provision may not nullify a requirement   adopted under Subsection (a).          SECTION 3.  Section 159.011, Occupations Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to a contract entered into or renewed on or   after the effective date of this Act.  A contract entered into or   renewed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law   in effect on the date the contract was entered into or renewed, and   the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.