(a) The department may develop and maintain a client omnibus registry and exchange data bases to cover public and private health and human services, programs, and clients and to facilitate the exchange of data among the state's health and human services agencies.
(b) The department must assure in maintaining the information that:
(1) health and mental health communications and records privileged under Chapter 611, Health and Safety Code, Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, and the Texas Rules of Evidence remain confidential and privileged;
(2) personally identifiable health and mental health communications and records of persons involved in the receipt or delivery of health or human services are confidential and privileged; and
(3) a private source is not required to provide confidential health or mental health communications or records unless a law specifically requires disclosure.