Art. 63.006. RELEASE OF DENTAL RECORDS    


(a) At the time a report is made for a missing child, the person to whom the report is given shall give or mail to the reporter a dental record release form. The officer receiving the report shall endorse the form with the notation that a missing child report has been made in compliance with this chapter. When the form is properly completed by the reporter, and contains the endorsement, the form is sufficient to permit any dentist or physician in this state to release dental records relating to the child reported missing.

(b) At any time a report is made for a missing person the law enforcement officer taking the report shall complete a dental release form that states that the person is missing and that there is reason to believe that the person has not voluntarily relocated or removed himself from communications with others and that authorizes the bearer of the release to obtain dental information records from any dentist or physician in this state.

(c) Any person who obtains dental records through the use of the form authorized by this article shall send the records to the clearinghouse.

(d) The judge of any court of record of this state may for good cause shown authorize the release of dental records of a missing child or missing person.

(e) A dentist or physician who releases dental records to a person presenting a proper release executed or ordered under this article is immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution for the release of those records.

Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 132, Sec. 1, eff. May 22, 1985. Renumbered from Human Resources Code Sec. 74.006 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 167, Sec. 5.01(a)(26), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Renumbered from Human Resources Code Sec. 79.006 and amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1427, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Subsec. (b) amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 685, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Renumbered from Vernon's Ann.C.C.P. art. 62.006 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 19.01(8)(A), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.