SRC-MKV S.B. 1106 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1106
77R8433 PB-FBy: Bernsen
Health & Human Services
3/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act was enacted in 1977 in
response to the medical malpractice insurance crisis.  At that time nurses,
hospitals, dentists, podiatrists, and pharmacists were included in the Act,
but optometrists were not included at the time because the incidence of
malpractice suits was low and it was thought that adding them to the Act
might increase the number of optometry malpractice claims rather than lower
them.  As proposed, S.B. 1106 adds optometrists  and therapeutic
optometrists to the list of health care providers covered by the Act so
that malpractice suits for optometrists follow the same track as suits
filed against other health care providers. 

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 1.03(a)(3), Medical Liability and Insurance
Improvement Act of Texas (Article 4590i, V.T.C.S.), to redefine "health
care provider" to include an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.