By:  Turner                                           S.B. No. 1185
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to inclusion of a psychologist on the medical advisory
    1-2  committee appointed by the Texas Workers Compensation Commission
    1-3  and the treatment of mental trauma injuries by a psychologist under
    1-4  the Texas workers compensation system; and declaring an emergency.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 401.011, Subdivision (42) Labor Code, is
    1-7  amended to read as follows:
    1-8        (42)  "Treating doctor" means the doctor who is primarily
    1-9  responsible for the employee's health care for an injury.
   1-10  Additionally, where the only condition requiring health care under
   1-11  this subtitle is a compensable mental trauma injury, "treating
   1-12  doctor" also means a licensed psychologist.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  Section 413.005, Subsection (b), Labor Code, is
   1-14  amended to read as follows:
   1-15        (b)  The medical advisory committee is composed of members
   1-16  appointed by the commission as follows:
   1-17              (1)  a representative of a public health care facility;
   1-18              (2)  a representative of a private health care
   1-19  facility;
   1-20              (3)  a doctor of medicine;
   1-21              (4)  a doctor of osteopathic medicine;
   1-22              (5)  a chiropractor;
   1-23              (6)  a dentist;
    2-1              (7)  a physical therapist;
    2-2              (8)  a pharmacist;
    2-3              (9)  a podiatrist;
    2-4              (10)  a psychologist;
    2-5              <(10)> (11)  an occupational therapist;
    2-6              <(11)> (12)  a medical equipment supplier;
    2-7              <(12)> (13)  a registered nurse;
    2-8              <(13)> (14)  a representative of employers;
    2-9              <(14)> (15)  a representative of employees; and
   2-10              <(15)> (16)  two representatives of the general public.
   2-11        (c)  Each member of the medical advisory committee must be
   2-12  knowledgeable and qualified regarding work-related injuries and
   2-13  diseases.
   2-14        (d)  The commission shall designate the presiding officer of
   2-15  the medical advisory committee.
   2-16        (e)  The medical advisory committee shall meet at the call of
   2-17  its presiding officer or at the call of a majority of the
   2-18  committee.
   2-19        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   2-20        SECTION 4.  EMERGENCY CLAUSE.  The importance of this
   2-21  legislation and the crowded condition of the calendars in both
   2-22  houses create an emergency and an imperative public necessity that
   2-23  the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-24  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.