Sec. 87.061.  REGISTRY;  CONFIDENTIALITY.  (a)  Information collected and analyzed by the department or an authorized agent under this chapter may be placed in a central registry to facilitate research and to maintain security.  The department may also store information available from other departmental programs and information from other reporting systems and health care providers.
(b)  The department shall use the registry to:
(1)  investigate the causes of birth defects and other health conditions as authorized by Texas statutes;
(2)  design and evaluate measures to prevent the occurrence of birth defects and other health conditions; and
(3)  conduct other investigations and activities necessary for the executive commissioner and department to fulfill their obligation to protect the health of the public.
(c)  The department may store in the central registry information that is obtained from the section of the birth certificate entitled "For Medical and Health Use Only."  This information may be used only as provided by Section 192.002(b), relating to the form and contents of the birth certificate.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 602, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0298, eff. April 2, 2015.