HBA-JEK, DMH S.B. 144 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 144
By: Carona
Public Health
5/18/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, an applicant originally licensed to practice
chiropractic in another state or country before August 1, 1979, who does
not meet licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the
requirements of this state is not eligible to be licensed in Texas. Senate
Bill 144 provides that an applicant who was licensed in another state or
country before August 1, 1979, is not ineligible for a license to practice
chiropractic in Texas under certain conditions.  

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

Senate Bill 144 amends the Occupations Code to provide that an applicant
who was originally licensed to practice chiropractic in another state or
foreign country before August 1, 1979, is not ineligible for: 

_a provisional license because the state or foreign country did not have a
licensing requirement substantially equivalent to the requirement under
Texas law to complete 60 semester hours of college courses at a school
other than a chiropractic school; and 

_a license because the applicant has not met the requirement to complete 60
semester hours of college course at a school other than a chiropractic
school.  


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 specifies that an applicant who was originally
licensed before August 1, 1979, to practice chiropractic in another state
or foreign country that does not have education requirements substantially
equivalent to the requirements of Texas have at least 20 years' experience
in the practice of chiropractic to be eligible for a provisional license.
The amendment provides that a person who receives a provisional license
under this provision must present satisfactory licensing examination
evidence to the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners no later than the
third anniversary of the date the provisional license is issued. 

The amendment removes the provision that specified that an applicant who
was originally licensed to practice chiropractic in another state or
foreign country before August 1, 1979, is not ineligible for a license
because the applicant has not met the 60-hour education requirement.