SRC-JEC H.B. 2558 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2558
By: Maxey (Shapleigh)
Health & Human Services
5/9/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, certain information about physicians, including a doctor's
educational background, the number of years certified, any
nationally-recognized specialty certifications, criminal history, and paid
malpractice claims is being assembled by the Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners (board) and is to be made available to consumers on the Internet.
The 76th Texas Legislature instructed the board to raise the fee by $20 to
pay for this technology. However, in the 2002-2003 biennium, the board is
required to reduce the fee by $10. Early estimations of the cost of profile
maintenance have proven to be too low, and the current fee is necessary to
pay the costs of maintaining the physician profiling system.  H.B. 2558
provides that the current fee of $20 is retained.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 153.051(b), Occupations Code, to prohibit the
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners from adjusting a fee established on
or before August 31, 2001, rather than September 1, 1993, to an amount less
than the amount of the fee on August 31, 2001, rather than September 1,
1993. 

SECTION 2.  Repealer:   Section 4(d), Chapter 645, Acts of the 76th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.