By Davila                                             H.B. No. 2252
       74R7591 JMM-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the requirement that the toll-free telephone number
    1-3  operated by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners be posted in
    1-4  a physician's office.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 2.09(s)(3), Medical Practice Act (Article
    1-7  4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as
    1-8  follows:
    1-9              (3)  The board shall list along with its regular
   1-10  telephone number the toll-free telephone number that may be called
   1-11  to present a complaint about a health professional if the toll-free
   1-12  number is established under other state law.  On written request
   1-13  the board shall make information available to the general public
   1-14  for a reasonable fee to cover expenses and appropriate state
   1-15  agencies including a summary of any previous disciplinary orders by
   1-16  the board against a specific physician licensed in this state, the
   1-17  date of the order, and the current status of the order.  The board
   1-18  shall establish an eight-hour toll-free telephone number to make
   1-19  the information immediately available to any caller if the board is
   1-20  not required to establish a toll-free telephone number under other
   1-21  state law.  The toll-free telephone number required under this
   1-22  subdivision must be posted on a sign prominently displayed in the
   1-23  place of business of each individual or entity regulated under this
   1-24  Act.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-2        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-3  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-4  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-5  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-6  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.