By Hirschi                                      H.B. No. 2449

      75R8731 JMM-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the approval of a licensed dietitian as a service

 1-3     provider under the chronically ill and disabled children's program.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 35.002, Health and Safety Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Subdivision (17) to read as follows:

 1-7                 (17)  "Licensed dietitian" means a person licensed as a

 1-8     licensed dietitian by the Texas State Board of Examiners of

 1-9     Dietitians.

1-10           SECTION 2.  Section 35.004(b), Health and Safety Code, is

1-11     amended to read as follows:

1-12           (b)  The board shall approve physicians, dentists, licensed

1-13     dietitians, facilities, specialty centers, and other providers to

1-14     participate in  the program according to the criteria and following

1-15     the procedures prescribed by the board.

1-16           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-17           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.