1-1 By: Nelson S.B. No. 556
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 17, 1999; February 18, 1999,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health Services;
1-4 March 4, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5,
1-5 Nays 0; March 4, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to referrals to occupational therapists.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Section 27, Occupational Therapy Practice Act
1-11 (Article 8851, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read
1-12 as follows:
1-13 Sec. 27. PRACTITIONER'S [PHYSICIAN'S] REFERRAL. An
1-14 occupational therapist may enter a case for the purposes of
1-15 providing consultation and monitored services and evaluating an
1-16 individual for the need of services. Implementation of direct
1-17 occupational therapy to individuals for their specific health care
1-18 [medical] conditions shall be based on a referral from a physician
1-19 licensed by a state board of medical examiners, a dentist licensed
1-20 by a state board of dental examiners, a chiropractor licensed by a
1-21 state board of chiropractic examiners, a podiatrist licensed by a
1-22 state board of podiatric medical examiners, or any other qualified,
1-23 licensed health care professional who within the scope of the
1-24 professional's licensure is authorized to refer for health care
1-25 services. The professional taking an action under this section is a
1-26 referring practitioner [to practice in the State of Texas].
1-27 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-28 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-29 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-30 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-31 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-32 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-33 * * * * *