AN ACT
1-1 relating to the licensing and inspection of certain hospitals.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Section 222.024, Health and Safety Code, is
1-4 amended to read as follows:
1-5 Sec. 222.024. CERTIFICATION OR ACCREDITATION INSTEAD OF
1-6 INSPECTION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a [A]
1-7 hospital licensed by the Texas Department of Health [or the Texas
1-8 Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation] is not subject
1-9 to additional annual licensing inspections before the department
1-10 [agency] issues the hospital a license [under Chapter 241 (Texas
1-11 Hospital Licensing Law) or by the licensing agency] while the
1-12 hospital maintains:
1-13 (1) certification under Title XVIII of the Social
1-14 Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395 et seq.); or
1-15 (2) accreditation from the Joint Commission on
1-16 Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American Osteopathic
1-17 Association, or other national accreditation organization for the
1-18 offered services.
1-19 (b) [If the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
1-20 Retardation licenses a hospital exempt from a licensing inspection
1-21 under Subsection (a), that agency shall issue a renewal license to
1-22 the hospital if the hospital annually remits any applicable fees
1-23 and submits a copy of the most recent inspection results report
2-1 from the certification or accreditation body.]
2-2 [(c)] If the department [Texas Department of Health]
2-3 licenses a hospital exempt from an annual [a] licensing inspection
2-4 under Subsection (a), the department [that agency] shall issue a
2-5 renewal license to the hospital if the hospital annually:
2-6 (1) submits a complete application required by the
2-7 department;
2-8 (2) remits any applicable fees;
2-9 (3) submits a copy of documentation from the
2-10 certification or accreditation body showing that the hospital is
2-11 certified or accredited; and
2-12 (4) submits a copy of the most recent fire safety
2-13 inspection report from the fire marshal in whose jurisdiction the
2-14 hospital is located.
2-15 (c) The department may conduct an inspection of a hospital
2-16 exempt from an annual licensing inspection under Subsection (a)
2-17 before issuing a renewal license to the hospital if the
2-18 certification or accreditation body has not conducted an on-site
2-19 inspection of the hospital in the preceding three years and the
2-20 department determines that an inspection of the hospital by the
2-21 certification or accreditation body is not scheduled within 60
2-22 days.
2-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 908 passed the Senate on
April 17, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 908 passed the House on
May 7, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor