SRC-DBM H.B. 573 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 573
76R7738  JMM-DBy: Pitts (Nelson)
Health Services
4/23/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, medical professionals are not allowed to count hours spent
volunteering their care services in free clinics towards their continuing
education hour requirement.  H.B. 573 would set forth continuing education
requirements for certain medical professionals. 


PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 573 sets forth continuing education requirements for
certain medical professionals. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners in SECTIONS 1 and 2 (Section 3.026(b), Article 4495b, V.T.C.S.
and Section 10A(b), Article 4495b-1, V.T.C.S. ) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Medical Practice Act , Article 4495b,
V.T.C.S., by adding Section 3.026, as follows: 

Sec. 3.026.  CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR CERTAIN VOLUNTEER MEDICAL
SERVICES.  Defines "a site serving a medically underserved population."
Requires the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (board), by rule, to
permit a license holder to complete half of any informal continuing medical
education hours required under Section 3.025 of this Act by providing
volunteer medical services at a site serving a medically underserved
population other than a site that is a primary practice site of the license
holder. 

SECTION 2.  Amends the Physician Assistant Licensing Act, Article 4495b-1,
V.T.C.S., by adding Section 10A, as follows: 

Sec. 10A.  CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR CERTAIN VOLUNTEER MEDICAL
SERVICES.  Requires the board, by rule, to permit a license holder to
complete half of any informal continuing medical education hours required
under this Act by providing volunteer medical services at a site serving a
medically underserved population other than a site that is a primary
practice site of the license holder.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

(b)  Requires an entity required to adopt rules under this act to adopt
rules required by this Act not later than January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.