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