By Farabee                                            H.B. No. 3421
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the licensure of physician assistants.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 204.155(b), Occupations Code, is amended
 1-5     to read as follows:
 1-6           (b)  A temporary license may be [is] valid for up to one year
 1-7     [100 days] after the date issued as determined by board rule [and
 1-8     may be extended for not more than an additional 30 days after the
 1-9     expiration of the initial temporary license].
1-10           SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 204, Occupations Code, is
1-11     amended by adding Sections 204.310 and 204.311 to read as follows:
1-12           Sec. 204.310.  REQUIRED SUSPENSION OF LICENSE OF INCARCERATED
1-13     PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.  Regardless of the offense, the board shall
1-14     suspend the license of a physician assistant serving a prison term
1-15     in a state or federal penitentiary during the term of
1-16     incarceration.
1-17           Sec. 204.311.  TEMPORARY SUSPENSION.      (a)  The president
1-18     of the board, with board approval, shall appoint a three-member
1-19     disciplinary panel consisting of board members to determine whether
1-20     a person's license to practice as a physician assistant should be
1-21     temporarily suspended.
1-22           (b)  If the disciplinary panel determines from the evidence
1-23     or information presented to the panel that a person licensed to
1-24     practice medicine as a physician assistant would, by the person's
 2-1     continuation in practice, constitute a continuing threat to public
 2-2     welfare, the disciplinary panel shall temporarily suspend the
 2-3     license of that person.
 2-4           (c)  A license may be suspended under this section without
 2-5     notice or hearing on the complaint if:
 2-6                 (1)  institution of proceedings for a hearing before
 2-7     the board is initiated simultaneously with the temporary
 2-8     suspension; and
 2-9                 (2)  a hearing is held under Chapter 2001, Government
2-10     Code, and this subtitle as soon as possible.
2-11           (d)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the
2-12     disciplinary panel may hold a meeting by telephone conference call
2-13     if immediate action is required and convening of the panel at one
2-14     location is inconvenient for any member of the disciplinary panel.
2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.