SRC-CDH S.B. 1295 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1295
By: Cain
Health & Human Services
4-1-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, although Fifth Pathway programs no longer provide a 
large stream of physicians into the 
U.S. workforce, there are still several programs in operation.  
The statutory provision that authorized 
the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (board) to license 
qualified Fifth Pathway certificate 
holders was repealed in the last legislative session on the basis 
that the Fifth Pathway was not being 
utilized by Texans who were training in foreign medical schools; 
however, research over the interim 
has shown that the program is, in fact, in use.  This legislation 
would restore the statutory language 
previously in effect and reauthorize the board to license 
qualified Fifth Pathway certificate holders 
in order to allow Texans who successfully completed a Fifth 
Pathway program to return to Texas to 
practice medicine.  
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1295 establishes the licensure of certain 
international medical graduates who have 
successfully completed a fifth pathway program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a 
state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 4495b, V.T.C.S. (Medical Practice Act), 
by adding Section 3.041, 
as follows:

Sec. 3.041.  Requires an applicant who has been a student of 
a foreign medical school, to be 
eligible for the issuance of a license, to present 
satisfactory proof to the board that the 
applicant has met certain requirements.  Provides that 
satisfaction of the requirements of this 
section are in lieu of the completion of any requirements of 
the foreign medical school 
beyond the completion of the didactic work.  Requires 
satisfaction of the requirements in 
Subsection (a) to be in lieu of certification by the 
Educational Commission for Foreign 
Medical Graduates, and provides that certification is not a 
condition of licensure to practice 
medicine in this state for those candidates.  Prohibits 
certain hospitals from requiring an 
individual who has been a student of a foreign medical 
school but has not graduated from the 
school to satisfy certain requirements prior to commencing 
an internship or residency.  Sets 
forth the terms by which certain documents are required to 
be considered the equivalent of 
a degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy for 
purposes of licensure. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.