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 not more than
1-7 one year [100 days] after the date issued as determined by board
1-8 rule [and may be extended for not more than an additional 30 days
1-9 after the expiration date 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 physician
1-14 assistant board shall suspend the license of a physician assistant
1-15 serving a prison term in a state or federal penitentiary during the
1-16 term of the incarceration.
1-17 Sec. 204.311. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION. (a) The presiding
1-18 officer of the physician assistant board, with board approval,
1-19 shall appoint a three-member disciplinary panel consisting of board
1-20 members to determine whether a person's license to practice as a
1-21 physician assistant should be 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 as a physician assistant would, by the person's
2-1 continuation in practice, constitute a continuing threat to the
2-2 public welfare, the disciplinary panel shall temporarily suspend
2-3 the 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 physician assistant board is initiated simultaneously with the
2-8 temporary suspension; and
2-9 (2) a hearing is held under Chapter 2001, Government
2-10 Code, and this chapter 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.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3421 was passed by the House on April
27, 2001, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3421 on May 17, 2001, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3421 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 15, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0, 1 present, not voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor