By Lindsay                                            S.B. No. 1347
         76R8780 T                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the evaluation and approval of continuing education for
 1-3     physical therapists.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 16A, Chapter 836, Acts of the 62nd
 1-6     Legislature, Regular Session, 1971 (Article 4512e, Vernon's Texas
 1-7     Civil Statutes) is amended to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 16A.  MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION.  (a)  The board by
 1-9     rule shall adopt requirements for mandatory continuing education
1-10     for licensees under this Act in subjects pertaining to the practice
1-11     of physical therapy.  The board by rule shall establish a minimum
1-12     number of hours of continuing education required to renew a
1-13     license.  The board may assess the continuing education needs of
1-14     licensees and may require licensees to attend continuing education
1-15     courses specified by the board.  The board by rule shall develop a
1-16     process to evaluate and approve continuing education courses, and
1-17     shall authorize licensee peer organizations to evaluate and approve
1-18     such courses in accordance with the established process.
1-19           (b)  The board shall identify the key factors for the
1-20     competent performance by a licensee of the licensee's professional
1-21     duties.  The board shall adopt a procedure to assess a licensee's
1-22     participation and performance in continuing education programs.
1-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-4     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-5     passage, and it is so enacted.