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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to medical education coursework in cultural competence and |
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implicit bias. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.310 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.310. CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND IMPLICIT BIAS MEDICAL |
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EDUCATION COURSEWORK. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Cultural competence" and "implicit bias" have the |
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meanings assigned by Section 153.017, Occupations Code. |
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(3) "Medical school" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 61.501. |
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(b) The coordinating board by rule shall require a medical |
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school to offer coursework in cultural competence and implicit bias |
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approved by the Texas Medical Board under Section 153.017(b), |
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Occupations Code. |
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(c) A medical school may not award a student a doctor of |
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medicine (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree |
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unless the student has successfully completed the number of hours |
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of coursework in cultural competence and implicit bias required by |
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coordinating board rule. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 153.017 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 153.017. COURSEWORK IN CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND |
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IMPLICIT BIAS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Cultural competence" means, with respect to |
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health care, the ability to effectively address the health issues |
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of individuals from diverse backgrounds by applying knowledge, |
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empathy, and insight into the views on health that those |
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backgrounds present. |
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(2) "Implicit bias" means: |
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(A) bias in judgment or behavior that results |
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from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit attitudes and |
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stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious |
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awareness and without intentional control; or |
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(B) implicit attitudes and stereotypes that |
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result in beliefs or simple associations that a person makes |
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between an object and its evaluation that are automatically |
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activated by the mere presence, actual or symbolic, of the attitude |
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object. |
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(b) The board by rule shall approve coursework in cultural |
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competence and implicit bias for purposes of Section 51.310, |
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Education Code. |
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(c) Coursework approved under Subsection (b) must be: |
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(1) designed to address medical decisions and |
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treatment relating to a person's race, ethnicity, nationality, |
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language, sex, gender, physical and mental ability, and |
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socioeconomic status; and |
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(2) developed in consultation with: |
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(A) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board; and |
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(B) the Association of American Medical Colleges |
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or another nationally recognized organization that reviews medical |
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school curricula. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Medical Board shall |
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adopt the rules necessary to implement this Act. |
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SECTION 4. Section 51.310(c), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a student who enrolls in a doctor of |
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medicine (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree |
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program on or after January 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |