By Luna S.B. No. 476
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 476:
By Maxey C.S.S.B. No. 476
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of the practice of naturopathic
1-3 medicine; providing penalties.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The legislature finds that a
1-6 significant number of the citizens of this state are turning to
1-7 naturopathic medicine for their health care needs and declares that
1-8 naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession that
1-9 affects the public health, safety, and welfare and provides the
1-10 public with freedom of choice in health care. The purpose of this
1-11 Act is to provide standards for the licensing and regulation of
1-12 naturopathic physicians to protect the public health, safety, and
1-13 welfare and to provide a means of identifying qualified
1-14 naturopathic physicians.
1-15 SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
1-16 (1) "Approved naturopathic medical college" means a
1-17 college or program granting the degree of doctor of naturopathic
1-18 medicine or doctor of naturopathy that:
1-19 (A) is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic
1-20 Medical Education or other accrediting agency if recognized by the
1-21 federal government;
1-22 (B) has candidate for accreditation status with
1-23 the accrediting agency; or
1-24 (C) has been approved by the board after the
2-1 college or program was investigated and found to meet education
2-2 standards equivalent to those established by the accrediting
2-3 agency.
2-4 (2) "Board" means the Texas Board of Health.
2-5 (3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health.
2-6 (4) "Homeopathic preparations" means medicines
2-7 prepared according to the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United
2-8 States.
2-9 (5) "Minor surgery" means the use of operative,
2-10 electrical, or other methods for the surgical repair and care
2-11 incidental to superficial lacerations and abrasions, superficial
2-12 lesions, and the removal of foreign bodies located in superficial
2-13 tissues and the use of antiseptics and local anesthetics in
2-14 connection with these methods. The term does not include general
2-15 or spinal anesthesia, major surgery, surgery of the body cavities,
2-16 or specialized surgeries, including plastic surgery or surgery
2-17 involving the eyes, tendons, ligaments, or major blood vessels.
2-18 (6) "Natural antibiotics" means antimicrobial,
2-19 antifungal, and antiprotozoal agents that are naturally occurring
2-20 substances or manufactured substances that are substantially
2-21 identical to the naturally occurring substances.
2-22 (7) "Naturopathic medicine" means a system of primary
2-23 health care practiced by naturopathic physicians for the
2-24 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human health conditions,
2-25 injuries, and diseases that uses education, natural medicines, and
2-26 therapies to support and stimulate the individual's intrinsic
2-27 self-healing processes.
3-1 (8) "Naturopathic obstetrics" means obstetrics and
3-2 natural childbirth. The term includes the use of natural
3-3 obstetrical medicines, ophthalmic antibiotics, obstetrical
3-4 emergency medicines, and minor surgery including episiotomies, but
3-5 does not include the use of forceps delivery, general or spinal
3-6 anesthesia, cesarean section, or induced abortion.
3-7 (9) "Naturopathic physician" means a person authorized
3-8 and licensed to practice naturopathic medicine under this Act.
3-9 (10) "Naturopathic physical medicine" means the
3-10 therapeutic use of the physical agents of air, water, heat, cold,
3-11 sound, light, and electromagnetic nonionizing radiation and the
3-12 physical modalities of electrotherapy, diathermy, ultraviolet
3-13 light, ultrasound, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy,
3-14 and therapeutic exercise.
3-15 (11) "Topical medicines" means topical analgesics,
3-16 anesthetics, antiseptics, scabicides, antifungals, and
3-17 antibacterials.
3-18 SECTION 3. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. (a) A person licensed as
3-19 a naturopathic physician under this Act may use for preventive and
3-20 therapeutic purposes the following medicines and therapies:
3-21 (1) food;
3-22 (2) food extracts;
3-23 (3) nutritional medicines;
3-24 (4) enzymes;
3-25 (5) digestive aids;
3-26 (6) whole gland thyroid;
3-27 (7) medicinal plant and animal substances;
4-1 (8) homeopathic preparations;
4-2 (9) natural antibiotics;
4-3 (10) immunizations;
4-4 (11) topical medicines;
4-5 (12) nonprescription medications;
4-6 (13) counseling and psychotherapy;
4-7 (14) hypnotherapy;
4-8 (15) biofeedback;
4-9 (16) dietary therapy;
4-10 (17) naturopathic physical medicine;
4-11 (18) therapeutic devices;
4-12 (19) barrier devices for contraception;
4-13 (20) naturopathic obstetrics; and
4-14 (21) minor surgery.
4-15 (b) A person licensed as a naturopathic physician under this
4-16 Act may use for diagnostic purposes:
4-17 (1) physical and orificial examinations;
4-18 (2) X-rays;
4-19 (3) electrocardiograms;
4-20 (4) ultrasound;
4-21 (5) phlebotomy;
4-22 (6) clinical laboratory tests and examinations;
4-23 (7) physiological function tests; and
4-24 (8) the noninvasive diagnostic procedures commonly
4-25 used by physicians in general practice.
4-26 SECTION 4. BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES. The board may adopt
4-27 rules authorizing the use by naturopathic physicians of other
5-1 diagnostic procedures and other natural medicines and therapies if
5-2 the procedures, medicines, and therapies are taught in approved
5-3 naturopathic medical colleges and are consistent with this Act.
5-4 SECTION 5. EXCEPTIONS. This Act does not:
5-5 (1) prevent any other professional who is licensed,
5-6 certified, or registered under the laws of this state from
5-7 providing services consistent with the professional's scope of
5-8 practice;
5-9 (2) apply to a student of naturopathic medicine who is
5-10 currently enrolled in an approved naturopathic medicine college and
5-11 who gratuitously diagnoses and treats disease under the direct
5-12 supervision of a naturopathic physician or other health care
5-13 practitioner regulated under the laws of this state if the
5-14 student's activities are within the scope of practice of the
5-15 supervising practitioner and are limited to activity consistent
5-16 with the scope of practice authorized by this Act; or
5-17 (3) apply to any naturopathic physician licensed in
5-18 another state, a territory of the United States, or the District of
5-19 Columbia, if the state, territory, or the District of Columbia
5-20 requires credentials equivalent to those of this Act, when the
5-21 physician is incidentally called into this state for consultation
5-22 with a naturopathic physician.
5-23 SECTION 6. PROHIBITED ACTS. A naturopathic physician may
5-24 not:
5-25 (1) prescribe, dispense, or administer any legend
5-26 drugs or controlled substances except those medicines authorized by
5-27 this Act;
6-1 (2) perform surgical procedures or X-ray procedures
6-2 except those procedures authorized by this Act;
6-3 (3) practice emergency medicine except as a samaritan
6-4 rendering gratuitous services in the case of emergency and except
6-5 for the care of minor injuries; or
6-6 (4) claim to practice medicine and surgery,
6-7 osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, chiropractic, physical
6-8 therapy, or any other system or method of treatment not authorized
6-9 by this Act.
6-10 SECTION 7. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. A naturopathic
6-11 physician has the same authority and responsibility as any other
6-12 licensed physician regarding public health laws, reportable
6-13 diseases and conditions, communicable disease control and
6-14 prevention, the recording of vital statistics, health and physical
6-15 examinations, competency examinations, and local boards of health,
6-16 except that the authority under this section is limited to activity
6-17 consistent with the scope of practice authorized by this Act.
6-18 SECTION 8. LICENSE QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A person is
6-19 qualified to be licensed as a naturopathic physician if the person:
6-20 (1) is a graduate of an approved naturopathic medical
6-21 college;
6-22 (2) has passed an examination prescribed or endorsed
6-23 by the board covering the appropriate naturopathic subjects; and
6-24 (3) is of good moral character.
6-25 (b) A person is qualified to be licensed as a naturopathic
6-26 physician without examination if:
6-27 (1) the applicant is licensed to practice naturopathic
7-1 medicine or naturopathy in another state, a territory of the United
7-2 States, or the District of Columbia under conditions and
7-3 circumstances that the board finds to be comparable to the
7-4 requirements of this state for obtaining a license to practice
7-5 naturopathic medicine and the state, the territory, or the District
7-6 of Columbia requires the successful completion of a professional
7-7 examination for the issuance of a license;
7-8 (2) the applicant has graduated from an approved
7-9 naturopathic medical college or, if the applicant was licensed
7-10 before a date designated by board rule, the applicant graduated
7-11 from a college approved by the board after the college was
7-12 investigated and found to meet the acceptable education standards
7-13 in existence at the time of the applicant's graduation; and
7-14 (3) the applicant produces evidence satisfactory to
7-15 the board that the applicant holds a valid, unsuspended, and
7-16 unrevoked license, has been actively engaged in the practice of
7-17 naturopathic medicine or naturopathy for not less than one year,
7-18 and is of good moral character.
7-19 (c) A person is qualified to be licensed under this Act
7-20 without examination if the person:
7-21 (1) is a resident of the state;
7-22 (2) is 18 years of age or older;
7-23 (3) held the person out to the public as a naturopath
7-24 or naturopathic physician before January 1, 1995;
7-25 (4) is not licensed as a health care provider under
7-26 any other law in this state;
7-27 (5) derives the majority of the person's earned income
8-1 from the practice of naturopathic medicine; and
8-2 (6) applies for a license under this subsection on or
8-3 before January 1, 1996.
8-4 (d) A person licensed under Subsection (c) of this section
8-5 may practice naturopathic medicine only within a scope of practice
8-6 that reflects the limits of the person's training and experience.
8-7 The board may adopt rules providing for limitations on the practice
8-8 of a person under this subsection and prescribing methods by which
8-9 a person licensed under Subsection (c) of this section is
8-10 identified as a person whose practice is limited.
8-11 SECTION 9. EXAMINATION. (a) A person may sit for the
8-12 examination prescribed or endorsed by the board under Section 8(a)
8-13 of this Act and be eligible for licensure on the passage of the
8-14 examination if, before December 1, 1995, the person submits proof
8-15 to the department that the person:
8-16 (1) attended a naturopathic college and received a
8-17 doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine or naturopathy from the
8-18 college before May 1, 1994, and the college is subsequently
8-19 approved by the board;
8-20 (2) was in practice in this state before May 1, 1994,
8-21 that included providing health care services using natural
8-22 medicines or therapies to patients in this state on a regular and
8-23 ongoing basis; and
8-24 (3) is of good moral character.
8-25 (b) The board may prescribe a nationally developed standard
8-26 examination as part or all of the examination prescribed or
8-27 endorsed under Section 8(a) of this Act. The passing criteria for
9-1 the examination shall be determined by board rule. The board may
9-2 adopt other rules necessary to the administration of the
9-3 examination.
9-4 (c) The board shall set the fees for the examination,
9-5 reexamination of the entire examination, and reexamination of
9-6 separate components of the examination in amounts necessary to
9-7 cover the actual cost of the examination and the expenses of
9-8 administration.
9-9 SECTION 10. LICENSE FEES. A license to practice
9-10 naturopathic medicine issued on the basis of examination or issued
9-11 without examination based on a license granted in another state, a
9-12 territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia may be
9-13 issued and renewed on payment of the initial licensing fee and
9-14 biennial renewal fees as determined by the board. The amounts of
9-15 the fees may not be less than $100 or more than $500.
9-16 SECTION 11. LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) A license to practice
9-17 naturopathic medicine must be renewed biennially.
9-18 (b) To renew a license, each naturopathic physician must
9-19 submit to the department evidence of successful completion of the
9-20 required hours of continuing education from programs approved by
9-21 the board.
9-22 (c) The board shall adopt rules as to what constitutes an
9-23 approved program of continuing education and the manner in which
9-24 attendance at all approved courses, clinics, forums, lectures,
9-25 programs, or seminars is monitored, recorded, and submitted to the
9-26 department.
9-27 (d) The board may adopt other rules necessary to the
10-1 administration of license renewals.
10-2 SECTION 12. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) The total number of
10-3 required continuing education hours for all naturopathic physicians
10-4 is not less than 30 approved hours biennially. The number and type
10-5 of required continuing education hours for a naturopathic physician
10-6 certified in naturopathic obstetrics is not less than 15 approved
10-7 specialty hours in obstetrics or natural childbirth and not less
10-8 than 20 approved hours biennially for a total of not less than 35
10-9 approved hours biennially.
10-10 (b) A person who seeks to renew a license that expired
10-11 within the preceding year must comply with the continuing education
10-12 requirements for the regular renewal of the license. A person
10-13 seeking to renew a license that has been expired for more than one
10-14 year must present evidence of completion of not less than one-half
10-15 of the required hours of approved continuing education requirements
10-16 during the year preceding the date of the application for renewal.
10-17 SECTION 13. INACTIVE STATUS; RETIRED STATUS. (a) A license
10-18 holder seeking to place the person's license on inactive status
10-19 must notify the department at the time of renewal and pay a fee for
10-20 inactive status.
10-21 (b) The amount of the fee shall be set by the board except
10-22 the amount may not be less than $30 or more than $100.
10-23 (c) To activate a license on inactive status, the license
10-24 holder must pay the regular renewal fee and present evidence of
10-25 having completed not less than one-half of the required hours of
10-26 approved continuing education requirements during the year
10-27 preceding the date of the application for activation.
11-1 (d) A license holder seeking to place a license on retired
11-2 status must notify the department at the time of renewal. A
11-3 license on retired status may not be reactivated.
11-4 (e) A license holder who holds a license that is on inactive
11-5 or retired status may not practice naturopathic medicine.
11-6 SECTION 14. SPECIALTY PRACTICE. (a) A naturopathic
11-7 physician may not practice naturopathic obstetrics without first
11-8 obtaining a certificate of specialty practice. The board shall
11-9 adopt rules to certify naturopathic physicians for specialty
11-10 practice.
11-11 (b) To be certified in naturopathic obstetrics, a
11-12 naturopathic physician must:
11-13 (1) pass a specialty examination in obstetrics or
11-14 natural childbirth approved by the board; and
11-15 (2) comply with the requirements adopted by the board
11-16 for issuance of the specialty certification that are equivalent to
11-17 the minimum requirements, including any examination requirements,
11-18 to obtain a license to practice midwifery in this state.
11-19 (c) The board may prescribe a national standardized
11-20 examination in obstetrics or natural childbirth as constituting the
11-21 specialty examination.
11-22 SECTION 15. USE OF X-RAY. A naturopathic physician licensed
11-23 under this Act may use an X-ray in the course of the person's
11-24 practice only if the person is certified by the board as qualified
11-25 to perform X-ray procedures. The board shall adopt rules for the
11-26 issuance of a certification under this section that are equivalent
11-27 to the requirements for other health professionals to engage in the
12-1 use of X-rays.
12-2 SECTION 16. USE OF TITLES; PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a) A
12-3 naturopathic physician may use the title "naturopathic physician"
12-4 and the recognized abbreviation for the professional degree of
12-5 "N.D." A naturopathic physician has the exclusive right to use the
12-6 terms "naturopathic physician," "naturopath," "doctor of
12-7 naturopathic medicine," "doctor of naturopathy," "naturopathic
12-8 medicine," "naturopathic health care," "naturopathy," and "N.D."
12-9 (b) A person commits an offense if the person holds the
12-10 person out as a naturopathic physician or naturopath, suggests that
12-11 the person practices naturopathic medicine or naturopathy, or uses
12-12 the terms and abbreviation described by Subsection (a) of this
12-13 section without holding a license or while the person is on retired
12-14 or inactive status under this Act.
12-15 (c) An offense under Subsection (b) of this section is a
12-16 Class B misdemeanor.
12-17 (d) A person who violates this section may be enjoined by
12-18 the district court on petition by the board.
12-19 SECTION 17. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. A person licensed under
12-20 this Act who engages in the practice of naturopathic medicine in
12-21 violation of this Act or a rule adopted under this Act is subject
12-22 to disciplinary measures and may be subject to a refusal to renew
12-23 the person's license, the imposition of a limitation on the
12-24 person's license, or the revocation or suspension of the license.
12-25 SECTION 18. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Section 3.06(b), Medical
12-26 Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is
12-27 amended to read as follows:
13-1 (b) This Act does not apply to:
13-2 (1) dentists, duly qualified and registered under the
13-3 laws of this state who confine their practice strictly to
13-4 dentistry;
13-5 (2) duly licensed optometrists who confine their
13-6 practice strictly to optometry as defined by law;
13-7 (3) duly licensed chiropractors who confine their
13-8 practice strictly to chiropractic as defined by law;
13-9 (4) registered or professional nurses and licensed
13-10 vocational nurses registered or licensed under the laws of this
13-11 state who confine their practice strictly within the provisions of
13-12 such applicable licensing Acts and the laws of this state;
13-13 (5) duly licensed podiatrists who confine their
13-14 practice strictly to podiatry as defined by law;
13-15 (6) duly licensed or certified psychologists who
13-16 confine their activities or practice strictly to psychology as
13-17 defined by law;
13-18 (7) duly licensed physical therapists who confine
13-19 their activities or practice strictly to physical therapy and who
13-20 are not in violation of any law relating to physical therapy
13-21 practice;
13-22 (8) duly licensed athletic trainers who confine their
13-23 activities to the functions of an athletic trainer;
13-24 (9) commissioned or contract surgeons of the uniformed
13-25 services of the United States or in the Public Health Service in
13-26 the performance of their duties and not engaged in private
13-27 practice;
14-1 (10) <(9)> any person furnishing medical assistance in
14-2 case of an emergency or disaster situation if no charge is made for
14-3 the medical assistance;
14-4 (11) <(10)> a student in training in a medical school
14-5 approved by the board while performing the duties assigned in the
14-6 course of training, providing the duties are performed under the
14-7 supervision of a licensed practitioner, except that medical
14-8 residents, interns, and fellows shall be required to register and
14-9 be subject to the other applicable provisions of this Act;
14-10 (12) <(11)> legally qualified physicians of other
14-11 states called in consultation but who have no office in Texas and
14-12 who appoint no place in this state for seeing, examining, or
14-13 treating patients; <or>
14-14 (13) licensed naturopathic physicians who confine
14-15 their practice strictly to naturopathic medicine as defined by law;
14-16 or
14-17 (14) <(12)> any other activities that the board may
14-18 designate as exempt from the application of this Act.
14-19 SECTION 19. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Section 3(a), Licensed
14-20 Professional Counselor Act (Article 4512g, Vernon's Texas Civil
14-21 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
14-22 (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section,
14-23 this Act does not apply to:
14-24 (1) the activities and services of or use of an
14-25 official title by a person employed as a counselor by a federal,
14-26 state, county, or municipal agency or public or private educational
14-27 institution, if the person is performing counseling or
15-1 counseling-related activities within the scope of his employment;
15-2 (2) the activities and services of a student, intern,
15-3 or trainee in counseling pursuing a course of study in counseling
15-4 in a regionally accredited institution of higher education or
15-5 training institution, if these activities and services constitute a
15-6 part of the supervised course of study and the person is designated
15-7 a "counselor intern";
15-8 (3) the activities and services of a nonresident
15-9 rendered not more than 30 days during any year, if the person is
15-10 authorized to perform the activities and services under the law of
15-11 the state or country of his residence;
15-12 (4) the activities and services of members of other
15-13 professions licensed or certified by the state, such as physicians,
15-14 registered nurses, psychologists, certified social workers,
15-15 licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed chemical
15-16 dependency counselors, licensed naturopathic physicians, licensed
15-17 optometrists in the evaluation and remediation of learning or
15-18 behavioral disabilities associated with or caused by a defective or
15-19 abnormal condition of vision, Christian Science practitioners who
15-20 are recognized by the Church of Christ Scientist as registered and
15-21 published in the Christian Science Journal, or other recognized
15-22 religious practitioners performing counseling consistent with the
15-23 law of the state, their training, and any code of ethics of their
15-24 professions, if they do not represent themselves by any title or
15-25 description in the manner prescribed by Section 2 of this Act;
15-26 (5) the activities, services, titles, and descriptions
15-27 of persons licensed to practice law;
16-1 (6) the activities, services, titles, and descriptions
16-2 of persons employed as professionals or who are volunteers in the
16-3 practice of counseling for public and private nonprofit
16-4 organizations or charities who are accountable to the persons'
16-5 sponsoring organization and do not use the title or hold themselves
16-6 out to be licensed counselors;
16-7 (7) persons supervised by a physician and recognized
16-8 as physician assistants by the Texas State Board of Medical
16-9 Examiners, if the persons act strictly within their scope of
16-10 practice and do not use the titles covered by Section 15(b)(3) of
16-11 this Act; or
16-12 (8) persons owning, operating, or employed by a
16-13 certified career counseling service regulated under Chapter 222,
16-14 Acts of the 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987 (Article
16-15 5221a-8, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
16-16 SECTION 20. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Section 5(39), Texas
16-17 Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is
16-18 amended to read as follows:
16-19 (39) "Practitioner" means:
16-20 (A) a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or
16-21 veterinarian, a naturopathic physician to the extent permitted by
16-22 rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health, or another <other>
16-23 person licensed or registered to prescribe, distribute, administer,
16-24 or dispense a prescription drug or device in the course of
16-25 professional practice in this state;
16-26 (B) a person licensed by another state in a
16-27 health field in which, under Texas law, licensees in this state may
17-1 legally prescribe dangerous drugs or a person practicing in another
17-2 state and licensed by another state as a physician, dentist,
17-3 veterinarian, or podiatrist, having a current Federal Drug
17-4 Enforcement Administration registration number, and who may legally
17-5 prescribe Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances in such
17-6 other state; or
17-7 (C) a person licensed in the Dominion of Canada
17-8 or the United Mexican States in a health field in which, under the
17-9 laws of this state, a licensee may legally prescribe dangerous
17-10 drugs. "Practitioner" does not include a person licensed under
17-11 this Act.
17-12 SECTION 21. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Section 481.002(39),
17-13 Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
17-14 (39) "Practitioner" means:
17-15 (A) a physician, dentist, veterinarian,
17-16 podiatrist, or scientific investigator, a naturopathic physician to
17-17 the extent permitted by rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health,
17-18 or another <other> person licensed, registered, or otherwise
17-19 permitted to distribute, dispense, analyze, conduct research with
17-20 respect to, or administer a controlled substance in the course of
17-21 professional practice or research in this state;
17-22 (B) a pharmacy, hospital, or other institution
17-23 licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute,
17-24 dispense, conduct research with respect to, or administer a
17-25 controlled substance in the course of professional practice or
17-26 research in this state; or
17-27 (C) a person practicing in and licensed by
18-1 another state as a physician, dentist, veterinarian, or podiatrist,
18-2 having a current Federal Drug Enforcement Administration
18-3 registration number, who may legally prescribe Schedule II, III,
18-4 IV, or V controlled substances in that state.
18-5 SECTION 22. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Section 483.001(12),
18-6 Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
18-7 (12) "Practitioner" means a person licensed:
18-8 (A) by the Texas State Board of Medical
18-9 Examiners, State Board of Dental Examiners, Texas State Board of
18-10 Podiatry Examiners, Texas Optometry Board, Texas Board of Health as
18-11 a naturopathic physician to the extent permitted by rules adopted
18-12 by the board, or State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to
18-13 prescribe and administer dangerous drugs;
18-14 (B) by another state in a health field in which,
18-15 under the laws of this state, a licensee may legally prescribe
18-16 dangerous drugs; or
18-17 (C) in Canada or Mexico in a health field in
18-18 which, under the laws of this state, a licensee may legally
18-19 prescribe dangerous drugs.
18-20 SECTION 23. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
18-21 1, 1995.
18-22 SECTION 24. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
18-23 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
18-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
18-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.