By: Nelson S.B. No. 556
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to referrals to occupational therapists.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Section 27, Occupational Therapy Practice Act
1-4 (Article 8851, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read
1-5 as follows:
1-6 Sec. 27. PRACTITIONER'S [PHYSICIAN'S] REFERRAL. An
1-7 occupational therapist may enter a case for the purposes of
1-8 providing consultation and monitored services and evaluating an
1-9 individual for the need of services. Implementation of direct
1-10 occupational therapy to individuals for their specific health care
1-11 [medical] conditions shall be based on a referral from a physician
1-12 licensed by a state board of medical examiners, a dentist licensed
1-13 by a state board of dental examiners, a chiropractor licensed by a
1-14 state board of chiropractic examiners, a podiatrist licensed by a
1-15 state board of podiatric medical examiners, or any other qualified,
1-16 licensed health care professional who within the scope of the
1-17 professional's licensure is authorized to refer for health care
1-18 services. The professional taking an action under this section is
1-19 a referring practitioner [to practice in the State of Texas].
1-20 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.