1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the continuing education requirements for certain 1-3 medical professionals. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Medical Practice Act (Article 1-6 4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Section 1-7 3.026 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 3.026. CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR CERTAIN 1-9 VOLUNTEER MEDICAL SERVICES. (a) In this section, "a site serving 1-10 a medically underserved population" has the meaning assigned by 1-11 Section 3.06 of this Act. 1-12 (b) The board by rule shall permit a license holder to 1-13 complete half of any informal continuing medical education hours 1-14 required under Section 3.025 of this Act by providing volunteer 1-15 medical services at a site serving a medically underserved 1-16 population other than a site that is a primary practice site of the 1-17 license holder. 1-18 SECTION 2. The Physician Assistant Licensing Act (Article 1-19 4495b-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by adding 1-20 Section 10A to read as follows: 1-21 Sec. 10A. CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR CERTAIN VOLUNTEER 1-22 MEDICAL SERVICES. (a) In this section, "a site serving a 1-23 medically underserved population" has the meaning assigned by 1-24 Section 3.06, Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's Texas 2-1 Civil Statutes). 2-2 (b) The board by rule shall permit a license holder to 2-3 complete half of any informal continuing medical education hours 2-4 required to renew a license under this Act by providing volunteer 2-5 medical services at a site serving a medically underserved 2-6 population other than at a site that is a primary practice site of 2-7 the license holder. 2-8 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-9 (b) An entity required to adopt rules under this Act shall 2-10 adopt rules required by this Act not later than January 1, 2000. 2-11 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 573 was passed by the House on March 23, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 573 was passed by the Senate on May 6, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor