By Moncrief                                            S.B. No. 332
         77R2825 JMM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the provision of a pharmaceutical sample by a physician
 1-3     to certain indigent patients.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 158.002(a), Occupations Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  This chapter does not prohibit a physician from
 1-8     supplying a pharmaceutical sample to a patient free of charge,
 1-9     including pharmaceutical samples provided by drug manufacturers for
1-10     indigent pharmaceutical programs, if, in the physician's opinion,
1-11     it is advantageous to the patient, in adhering to a course of
1-12     treatment prescribed by the physician, to receive the sample.
1-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-14     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-15     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-16     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-17     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.