HBA-TBM, MPM H.B. 1651 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1651 By: Edwards Public Health 3/6/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, dentists, podiatrists, and physicians may form professional associations, but optometrists are not authorized to do so. House Bill 1651 authorizes optometrists to form professional associations in compliance with the Texas Professional Association Act. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1651 amends the Texas Professional Association Act to include persons duly licensed to perform optometry or therapeutic optometry among those professionals who are authorized by complying with the Act to form a professional association. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.