Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 419	Senate Author:  Nelson
Effective:  9-1-05	House Sponsor:  Solomons

            Senate Bill 419 amends the Occupations Code to continue the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners, and the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners until September 1, 2017. 

            In addition to including across-the-board sunset provisions, Senate Bill 419 changes the name of the medical examiners board to the Texas Medical Board, authorizes the board to issue a faculty temporary license, directs the board to consider whether a violation relates to patient care in determining certain disciplinary action, requires the board to notify a physician of the reasons for rejecting a recommendation for settlement or dismissal of a complaint from an informal hearing panel, and requires the legislature to conduct a joint interim study of the medical peer review process in hospitals and other health care entities in the state.  The bill prohibits a physician from performing an abortion in the third trimester of a pregnancy, except under certain circumstances, and requires parental consent before an abortion can be performed on certain minors. 

            The bill also includes provisions relating to the regulation of surgical assistants and changes the name of the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners to the Texas Physician Assistant Board.