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