my %hash;
my $blah = function(\%hash);
warn Dumper \%hash; # prints a bunch of values

##</code><code>##

sub function {
my ($hash) = @_;

 tie %$hash, 'Apache::Session::File', undef,
            {
              Directory => $r->dir_config('blah'),
              LockDirectory => $r->dir_config('blah'),
            };
$hash->{auth}->{user} = "jacques"

}

##</code><code>##

sub function {
my ($hash) = @_;

$hash = MyModule::tie_session();

$hash->{auth}->{user} = "jacques";
}

##</code><code>##

Package MyModule;

use Apache::Session::File;

sub tie_session {

        my $hash = {}; 

        eval {
                tie %$hash, 'Apache::Session::File',undef,
                {Directory     => $r->dir_config('Blah'),
                 LockDirectory => $r->dir_config('Blah'),
                };
        };
        return $@ if ($@);
        return $hash;
}

1;