Amend CSSB 104 by adding the following appropriately numbered 
SECTION and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
	SECTION _____. Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Chapter 166 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 166. OFFICE OF PATIENT ADVOCATE
	Sec. 166.001. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE. The office of patient 
advocate is created as an independent office to represent the 
interests of consumers who are patients of physicians in this 
state.
	Sec. 166.002. APPOINTMENT OF ADVOCATE. (a) The governor, with 
the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a patient 
advocate who shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions 
of this chapter.
	(b) The patient advocate may not:                                       
		(1) be licensed to practice medicine;                                  
		(2) be financially involved in any organization that is 
subject to regulation by the board; or
		(3) be a provider of health care.                                      
	Sec. 166.003. FUNDING OF OFFICE. To provide funding 
sufficient for the office of patient advocate to exercise the 
office's powers and duties, the initial registration permit and 
renewal of registration permit fees for each physician under this 
subtitle are increased by $10. The fees collected under this 
section may be used only to fund the activities of the office of 
patient advocate.
	Sec. 166.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The office of patient 
advocate may:
		(1) appear or intervene before the board on behalf of 
consumers as a class;
		(2) recommend necessary legislative and regulatory 
changes; and      
		(3) appeal a board decision on behalf of consumers as a 
class.       
	(b) The office of patient advocate shall serve as the liaison 
between consumer complainants and the board.  The office shall 
assist a consumer in obtaining information about the status of the 
consumer's complaint.
	(c) The office of patient advocate is entitled to access to 
complaints and board records that are available to any party, other 
than board staff, in a proceeding before the board.
	(d) The confidentiality requirements that apply to the board 
also apply to the office of patient advocate.