By Uher H.B. No. 1577
75R6119 PB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to peer assistance programs for licensed veterinarians.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. The Veterinary Licensing Act (Article 8890,
1-5 Revised Statutes) is amended by adding Section 8A to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 Sec. 8A. (a) The Board shall establish or approve a peer
1-8 assistance program for persons licensed under this Act.
1-9 (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section,
1-10 the peer assistance program must comply with Chapter 467, Health
1-11 and Safety Code.
1-12 (c) The peer assistance program is funded as provided by
1-13 Section 14B(r) of this Act. Section 467.004, Health and Safety
1-14 Code, does not apply to the peer assistance program established or
1-15 approved under this section.
1-16 SECTION 2. Section 14B(r), The Veterinary Licensing Act
1-17 (Article 8890, Revised Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-18 (r) The Board shall remit a [A] penalty collected under this
1-19 section [shall be remitted] to the comptroller for deposit in the
1-20 general revenue fund to the credit of a special account. Money in
1-21 the account may be appropriated only to fund the peer assistance
1-22 program under Section 8A of this Act. At the end of each fiscal
1-23 year, the comptroller shall transfer all unobligated and unexpended
1-24 amounts in the account to the undedicated portion of the general
2-1 revenue fund.
2-2 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
2-3 applies to an administrative penalty collected by the State Board
2-4 of Veterinary Medical Examiners on or after that date.
2-5 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.