By Hilderbran                                         H.B. No. 2295
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to referrals to occupational therapists.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 27, Occupational Therapy Practice Act
 1-5     (Article 8851, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 27.  PRACTITIONER'S [PHYSICIAN'S] REFERRAL.  An
 1-8     occupational therapist may enter a case for the purposes of
 1-9     providing consultation and monitored services and evaluating an
1-10     individual for the need of services.  Implementation of direct
1-11     occupational therapy to individuals for their specific health care
1-12     [medical] conditions shall be based on a referral from a physician
1-13     licensed by a state board of medical examiners, a dentist licensed
1-14     by a state board of dental examiners, a chiropractor licensed by a
1-15     state board of chiropractic examiners, a podiatrist licensed by a
1-16     state board of podiatric medical examiners, or any other qualified,
1-17     licensed health care professional who within the scope of the
1-18     professional's licensure is authorized to refer for health care
1-19     services.  The professional taking an action under this section is
1-20     a referring practitioner [to practice in the State of Texas].
1-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.