By Davila                                       H.B. No. 3184

      75R2968 JMM-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the requirement that the toll-free telephone number

 1-3     operated by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners be posted in

 1-4     a physician's office.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 2.09(s)(3), Medical Practice Act (Article

 1-7     4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as

 1-8     follows:

 1-9                 (3)  The board shall list along with its regular

1-10     telephone number the toll-free telephone number that may be called

1-11     to present a complaint about a health professional if the toll-free

1-12     number is established under other state law.  On written request

1-13     the board shall make information available to the general public

1-14     for a reasonable fee to cover expenses and appropriate state

1-15     agencies including a summary of any previous disciplinary orders by

1-16     the board against a specific physician licensed in this state, the

1-17     date of the order, and the current status of the order.  The board

1-18     shall establish an eight-hour toll-free telephone number to make

1-19     the information immediately available to any caller if the board is

1-20     not required to establish a toll-free telephone number under other

1-21     state law.  A toll-free telephone number required under this

1-22     subdivision must be posted on a sign prominently displayed in the

1-23     place of business of each individual or entity regulated under this

1-24     Act.

 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.