H.B. 3213 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3213
           By: Robby Cook
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas law currently allows health professionals such as physicians,
podiatrists and dentists to form business entities known as "professional
associations."  Only those health professionals specifically listed in the
Texas Professional Association Act are allowed to form professional
associations. Veterinarians are not currently listed in the statutes and
thus are currently prohibited from forming professional associations.   

HB 3213 amends the Texas Professional Association Act to authorize one or
more persons duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine to form a
professional association in compliance with the Act, as distinguished from
partnerships and corporations.  A professional association, much like a
limited liability partnership, and unlike a general partnership, provides
that no owner of the enterprise is individually liable for the businesses'
obligations.  In short, this bill offers veterinarians one additional type
of business structure from which to choose.  This bill would not allow
veterinarians to form professional associations with other health
professionals, such as chiropractors. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3213 amends the Texas Professional Association Act authorizing any
one or more persons licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Texas, to
form a professional association. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.