In a Law360 article discussing key issues that Texas lawmakers may address in 2023, Jackson Walker partners Stacy Allen and Denise Rose shared insight on efforts to restrict public records access and the workforce shortage in the hospital industry.
Public Information Concerns
Access to records concerning law enforcement actions and government contracts may be up for discussion in the 2023 Texas legislative session, Stacy told Law360. In light of the release of 9-1-1 recordings from the Uvalde school shooting, he noted that there may be a significant effort to restrict access to such recordings.
However, Stacy noted in an October 2022 article previewing the 2023 session that “House leadership has indicated strong support for criminal transparency legislation addressing in-custody deaths, toxicology reports, and other policing issues in response to the Uvalde mass school shooting tragedy.”
Stacy has spoken and written extensively about the right of publicity, defamation, privacy, open access, and other issues of interest to news organizations and entertainment and video game companies, and routinely testifies before the Texas legislature on behalf of the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB). In 2022, he and fellow Jackson Walker partner Paul Watler prepared an update for TAB’s Newsroom Legal Guide, which covers legal principles and considerations affecting Texas broadcasters in gathering and reporting the news.
Healthcare Industry Workforce Shortages
As health care facilities continue to suffer workforce shortages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Denise noted that Texas lawmakers may discuss solutions to improve pathways to enter the medical field. One such proposed bill, H.B. 901, seeks to provide student loan repayment assistance to professors at nursing schools.
Considering the high turnover rate in the healthcare industry, the time is now for health systems and hospitals review any Blanket Waivers they may be relying upon to ensure compliance should the COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) expire in 2023. To ensure compliance, view this article walking through three steps to take right now.
For nearly two decades, Denise has worked in and around the Texas Capitol, providing counsel to clients on Medicaid and hospital finance, special utility districts, occupational licensing, healthcare quality, and agency rulemaking processes and requests for proposals. She leads Jackson Walker’s Government Relations & Public Policy group.
To view the full article by Law360, see “Texas Legislation To Watch In Early 2023” (subscription required).
The opinions expressed in this and any related articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm, its clients, or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
