BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1850
88R13702 DIO-D	By: Flores
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	3/30/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Many enabling statutes, such as those of the Texas Board of Dental Examiners, the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the Texas Board of Acupuncture Examiners, require that a practitioner serve in the presiding officer position. However, the enabling statute of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) does not contain this requirement.

TBVME's presiding officer is tasked with protecting the public by ensuring that licensed professionals practice effectively and ethically. Those holding a license have a strong incentive to ensure the efficacy of TBVME, while also possessing valuable information about the profession. For these reasons, ensuring TBVME's presiding officer is a licensed professional is paramount to its effectiveness.

The goal of this bill is to require that the presiding officer of TBVME is a veterinarian. This ensures the presiding officer understands and meets the needs of licensees and the public they serve.

As proposed, S.B. 1850 amends current law relating to the presiding officer of the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 801.055(a), Occupations Code, to require the governor to designate a veterinarian member of the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners as the presiding officer of that board to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.