SRC-JEC C.S.S.B. 692 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 692
77R9614 SMH-FBy: Lindsay
Health & Human Services
3/22/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (board) is
required to develop a process to evaluate and approve continuing education
courses.  C.S.S.B. 692 authorizes the board to authorize license holder
peer organizations in Texas to evaluate and approve continuing education
courses in accordance with the board's process. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of
Occupational Therapy Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 454.254, Occupations
Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 454.254, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection
(d) to authorize the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (board),
in adopting rules under Subsection (a)(3), to authorize license holder peer
organizations in this state to evaluate and approve continuing education
courses in accordance with the board's evaluation and approval process.
Prohibits the board from adopting rules implementing this subsection after
January 1, 2003. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from the original by authorizing, rather than requiring, the board
to authorize the license holder peer organizations to evaluate and approve
the courses.  Prohibits the board from adopting the rules after January 1,
2003, rather than January 1, 2002.  Inserts the prohibition at the end of
SECTION 1, rather than placing it in a separate SECTION 2.  Redesignates
previously proposed SECTION 3 (the effective date) as SECTION 2.