By Jones of Dallas                                    H.B. No. 1636
       74R3670 CAG-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to authority of a physician to supply drugs, remedies, or
    1-3  supplies  to a patient.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 5.09(a), Medical Practice Act (Article
    1-6  4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as
    1-7  follows:
    1-8        (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, a <A> physician licensed
    1-9  to practice medicine under this Act may supply patients with any
   1-10  drugs, remedies, or clinical supplies as are necessary to meet the
   1-11  patients' <immediate> needs.  This subsection does not permit the
   1-12  physician to operate a retail pharmacy without first complying with
   1-13  the Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil
   1-14  Statutes).
   1-15        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-16        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-17  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-18  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-19  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-20  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.