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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an alternate license to practice medicine in this state |
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and medical care provided at certain health care facilities by |
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physicians with an alternate license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 222, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED AT CERTAIN HEALTH CARE |
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FACILITIES BY PHYSICIANS WITH ALTERNATE LICENSES |
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Sec. 222.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the commission. |
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(3) "Health care facility" means a health care |
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facility licensed by the commission. |
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Sec. 222.102. MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS WITH |
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ALTERNATE LICENSE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE. A health care facility may |
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not: |
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(1) refuse to accept for board certification purposes |
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a physician's alternate license to practice medicine issued under |
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Section 155.012, Occupations Code, in employing or granting |
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practice or admitting privileges for the physician to provide |
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medical care to patients at the facility; or |
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(2) otherwise discriminate against a physician |
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described by Subdivision (1) in an employment or privilege decision |
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based on the physician's alternate license. |
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Sec. 222.103. LICENSE REVOCATION. The commission shall |
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revoke the license of a health care facility that violates this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 222.104. RULES. The executive commissioner shall |
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adopt rules to implement this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 155.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 155.012. ALTERNATE LICENSE FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS. |
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(a) The board shall establish an alternate license to practice |
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medicine in this state that: |
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(1) requires an applicant to satisfy each applicable |
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eligibility requirement for a license under this chapter except as |
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provided by Subdivision (2); and |
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(2) does not require an applicant to complete courses |
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or training on or to satisfy any other requirement, including |
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obtaining certification, for: |
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(A) performing or inducing an abortion; or |
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(B) performing a medical procedure prohibited |
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under state law. |
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(b) The board shall adopt application procedures and |
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eligibility requirements for an applicant to apply for and the |
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board to issue an alternate license under this section. |
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(c) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 155.051, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b) and |
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(b-1), an applicant for a license to practice medicine in this state |
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must pass each part of an examination described by Section |
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155.0511(2), (3), (4), (6), or (7) within seven years. |
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(b-1) An applicant for an alternate license established |
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under Section 155.012 must pass each part of an examination |
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described by Section 155.0511(10) within seven years. |
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SECTION 4. Section 155.0511, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 155.0511. EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED OR ACCEPTED BY |
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BOARD. The board may administer or accept the following |
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examinations for licensing as determined by rule: |
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(1) a state board licensing examination; |
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(2) the Medical Council of Canada Examination (LMCC) |
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or its successor; |
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(3) the National Board of Osteopathic Medical |
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Examiners (NBOME) examination or its successor; |
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(4) the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) |
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examination or its successor; |
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(5) the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) with a |
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weighted average in one sitting before June 1985; |
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(6) the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) after |
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May 1985; |
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(7) the United States Medical Licensing Examination |
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(USMLE) or its successor; |
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(8) a combination of the examinations described by |
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Subdivisions (3) and (6) as determined by board rule; [or] |
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(9) a combination of the examinations described by |
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Subdivisions (4), (6), and (7) as determined by board rule; or |
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(10) any other examination substantially similar in |
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training requirements and rigor to the examinations an applicant is |
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otherwise required to pass for issuance of a license under this |
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chapter but that excludes testing on subjects described by Section |
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155.012(a)(2). |
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SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act: |
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(1) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement |
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Subchapter D, Chapter 222, Health and Safety Code, as added by this |
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Act; and |
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(2) the Texas Medical Board shall adopt rules to |
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implement the alternate license to practice medicine in this state |
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as required by Section 155.012, Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |