1-1 By: Lindsay S.B. No. 1347 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 11, 1999; March 15, 1999, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Health Services; 1-4 April 28, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, 1-5 Nays 0; April 28, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the evaluation and approval of continuing education for 1-9 physical therapists. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Section 16A, Chapter 836, Acts of the 62nd 1-12 Legislature, Regular Session, 1971 (Article 4512e, Vernon's Texas 1-13 Civil Statutes) is amended to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 16A. MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) The board by 1-15 rule shall adopt requirements for mandatory continuing education 1-16 for licensees under this Act in subjects pertaining to the practice 1-17 of physical therapy. The board by rule shall establish a minimum 1-18 number of hours of continuing education required to renew a 1-19 license. The board may assess the continuing education needs of 1-20 licensees and may require licensees to attend continuing education 1-21 courses specified by the board. The board by rule shall develop a 1-22 process to evaluate and approve continuing education courses and 1-23 shall authorize licensee peer organizations to evaluate and approve 1-24 such courses in accordance with the established process. 1-25 (b) The board shall identify the key factors for the 1-26 competent performance by a licensee of the licensee's professional 1-27 duties. The board shall adopt a procedure to assess a licensee's 1-28 participation and performance in continuing education programs. 1-29 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-30 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-31 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-32 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-33 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-34 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-35 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-36 * * * * *