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.