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78R3399 MXM-D
By: Allen H.B. No. 1483
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to regulation of licensed vocational nurses by the Board
of Nurse Examiners and the abolition of the Board of Vocational
Nurse Examiners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. MERGER OF BOARD OF VOCATIONAL NURSE EXAMINERS INTO
BOARD OF NURSE EXAMINERS
SECTION 1.001. Section 301.004(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) This chapter does not apply to:
(1) gratuitous nursing care of the sick that is
provided by a friend;
(2) [nursing care by a licensed vocational nurse
licensed under Chapter 302;
[(3)] nursing care provided during a disaster under
the state emergency management plan adopted under Section 418.042,
Government Code, if the person providing the care does not hold the
person out as a registered or professional nurse unless the person
is licensed in another state;
(3) [(4)] nursing care in which treatment is solely by
prayer or spiritual means;
(4) [(5)] an act performed by a person under the
control or supervision or at the instruction of a person licensed by
the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
(5) [(6)] an act performed by a person licensed by
another state agency if the act is authorized by the statute under
which the person is licensed;
(6) [(7)] the practice of nursing that is incidental
to a program of study by a student enrolled in a board-accredited
nursing education program leading to an initial license as a
professional nurse; or
(7) [(8)] the practice of nursing by a registered
nurse licensed in another state who is in this state on a nonroutine
basis for a period not to exceed 72 hours to:
(A) provide care to a patient being transported
into, out of, or through this state;
(B) provide professional nursing consulting
services; or
(C) attend or present a continuing nursing
education program.
SECTION 1.002. Section 301.051(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The Board of Nurse Examiners consists of 13 [nine]
members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the
senate as follows:
(1) six [registered] nurse members, including:
(A) one advanced practice nurse;
(B) two registered nurses who are not advanced
practice nurses or members of a nurse faculty; and
(C) three licensed vocational nurses who are not
members of a nurse faculty; and
(2) three members who are nurse faculty members of
schools of nursing, selected as follows:
(A) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a
school of nursing offering the baccalaureate degree program;
(B) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a
school of nursing offering the associate degree program; and
(C) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a
[graduate] school of nursing offering vocational nurse training
[preparing advanced practice nurses]; and
(3) four [(2) three] members who represent the
public.
SECTION 1.003. Section 301.054, Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.054. TERMS. Members of the board serve staggered
six-year terms, with the terms of as near one-third of the members
as possible [one member who is a practicing registered nurse, one
member who is a registered nurse engaged in nurse education, and one
member who is a representative of the public] expiring on January 31
of each odd-numbered year.
SECTION 1.004. Section 301.059(b), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The training program shall provide information to a
participant regarding:
(1) this chapter and Chapter 302;
(2) the programs operated by the board;
(3) the role and functions of the board;
(4) the rules of the board, with an emphasis on the
rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;
(5) the current budget for the board;
(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the
board;
(7) the requirements of Chapters 551, 552, 2001, and
2002, Government Code;
(8) the requirements of the conflict of interest laws
and other laws relating to public officials; and
(9) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
board or the Texas Ethics Commission.
SECTION 1.005. Section 301.101(b), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Under the direction of the board, the executive director
shall perform the duties required by this chapter or Chapter 302 or
designated by the board.
SECTION 1.006. Section 301.158, Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.158. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. (a) The board
shall disseminate, at least twice a year and at other times the
board determines necessary, information that is of significant
interest to professional nurses and employers of professional
nurses in this state, including summaries of final disciplinary
action taken against registered nurses by the board since its last
dissemination of information.
(b) The board may combine the dissemination of information
under Subsection (a) with the dissemination of information required
under Section 302.155.
SECTION 1.007. Section 301.161(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The board shall aid in the enforcement of this chapter
and Chapter 302.
SECTION 1.008. Section 301.164, Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.164. ASSISTANCE OF PROSECUTOR. A board member may
present to a prosecuting officer a complaint relating to a
violation of this chapter or Chapter 302. The board, through its
members, officers, counsel, or agents, shall assist in the trial of
a case involving an alleged violation of this chapter or Chapter
302, subject to the control of the prosecuting officers.
SECTION 1.009. Section 302.001(1), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(1) "Board" means the Board of [Vocational] Nurse
Examiners.
ARTICLE 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
SECTION 2.001. Section 61.657(b), Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The board shall appoint an eight-member advisory
committee to advise the board concerning assistance provided under
this subchapter to vocational nursing students. The advisory
committee consists of:
(1) a chair named by the board;
(2) one representative named by the Licensed
Vocational Nurses Association of Texas;
(3) one representative named by the Texas Organization
of Nurse Executives;
(4) one representative named by the Board of
[Vocational] Nurse Examiners;
(5) two representatives of vocational nursing
educational programs named by the Texas Association of Vocational
Nurse Educators;
(6) one representative named by the Texas Health Care
Association; and
(7) one representative named by the Texas Association
of Homes for the Aging.
SECTION 2.002. Section 232.002, Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 232.002. LICENSING AUTHORITIES SUBJECT TO CHAPTER.
The following are licensing authorities subject to this chapter:
(1) Department of Agriculture;
(2) Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse;
(3) Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
(4) Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification
Board;
(5) Texas Board of Architectural Examiners;
(6) State Board of Barber Examiners;
(7) Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
(8) Comptroller of Public Accounts;
(9) Texas Cosmetology Commission;
(10) Court Reporters Certification Board;
(11) State Board of Dental Examiners;
(12) Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians;
(13) Texas Funeral Service Commission;
(14) Texas Department of Health;
(15) Texas Department of Human Services;
(16) Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying;
(17) Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation;
(18) Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and
Family Therapists;
(19) Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
(20) Midwifery Board;
(21) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
[Natural Resource Conservation Commission];
(22) Board of Nurse Examiners;
(23) Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners;
(24) Texas Optometry Board;
(25) Parks and Wildlife Department;
(26) Texas State Board of Examiners of Perfusionists;
(27) Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
(28) Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners;
(29) Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners;
(30) Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners;
(31) Polygraph Examiners Board;
(32) Texas Commission on Private Security;
(33) Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional
Counselors;
(34) Texas Board of Professional Engineers;
(35) Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services;
(36) Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists;
(37) Texas State Board of Public Accountancy;
(38) Department of Public Safety of the State of
Texas;
(39) Public Utility Commission of Texas;
(40) Railroad Commission of Texas;
(41) Texas Real Estate Commission;
(42) State Bar of Texas;
(43) Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners;
(44) State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language
Pathology and Audiology;
(45) Texas Structural Pest Control Board;
(46) Board of Tax Professional Examiners;
(47) Secretary of State;
(48) Supreme Court of Texas;
(49) Texas Transportation Commission;
(50) State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners;
(51) [Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners;
[(52)] Texas Ethics Commission;
(52) [(53)] Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers;
(53) [(54)] State Committee of Examiners in the
Fitting and Dispensing of Hearing Instruments;
(54) [(55)] Texas Board of Licensure for Professional
Medical Physicists;
(55) [(56)] Texas Department of Insurance;
(56) [(57)] Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics;
(57) [(58)] savings and loan commissioner;
(58) [(59)] Texas Juvenile Probation Commission; and
(59) [(60)] Texas Lottery Commission under Chapter
466, Government Code.
SECTION 2.003. Section 487.101(3), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(3) "Postsecondary educational institution" means:
(A) an institution of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
(B) a nonprofit, independent institution
approved under Section 61.222, Education Code; or
(C) a nonprofit, health-related school or
program accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the American
Osteopathic Association, the Board of Nurse Examiners, [the Board
of Vocational Nurse Examiners,] or, in the case of allied health, an
accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of
Education.
SECTION 2.004. Section 487.151(2), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Postsecondary educational institution" means:
(A) an institution of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
(B) a nonprofit, independent institution
approved under Section 61.222, Education Code; or
(C) a nonprofit, health-related school or
program accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the American
Osteopathic Association, the Board of Nurse Examiners, [the Board
of Vocational Nurse Examiners,] or, in the case of allied health, an
accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of
Education.
SECTION 2.005. Section 2054.252(a), Government Code, as
added by Chapter 353, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The following licensing authorities shall participate
in the system established under Section 2054.253, as added by
Chapter 353, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001:
(1) State Board of Barber Examiners;
(2) Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
(3) Texas Cosmetology Commission;
(4) Court Reporters Certification Board;
(5) State Board of Dental Examiners;
(6) Texas Funeral Service Commission;
(7) Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying;
(8) Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
(9) Board of Nurse Examiners;
(10) [Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners;
[(11)] Texas Optometry Board;
(11) [(12)] Texas Structural Pest Control Board;
(12) [(13)] Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
(13) [(14)] Executive Council of Physical Therapy and
Occupational Therapy Examiners;
(14) [(15)] Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners;
(15) [(16)] Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical
Examiners;
(16) [(17)] Board of Tax Professional Examiners;
(17) [(18)] Polygraph Examiners Board;
(18) [(19)] Texas State Board of Examiners of
Psychologists;
(19) [(20)] State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners;
(20) [(21)] Texas Real Estate Commission;
(21) [(22)] Texas Appraiser Licensing and
Certification Board; and
(22) [(23)] Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation.
SECTION 2.006. Section 81.010(c), Health and Safety Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(c) The council consists of one representative from each of
the following agencies appointed by the executive director or
commissioner of each agency:
(1) the department;
(2) the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation;
(3) the Texas Department of Human Services;
(4) the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse;
(5) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
(6) the Texas Youth Commission;
(7) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
(8) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
(9) the Texas Commission for the Blind;
(10) the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing;
(11) the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services;
(12) the Texas Education Agency;
(13) the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
(14) the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(15) [the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners;
[(16)] the State Board of Dental Examiners;
(16) [(17)] the Health and Human Services Commission;
(17) [(18)] the Texas Department on Aging; and
(18) [(19)] the Texas Workforce Commission.
SECTION 2.007. Section 142.022, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 142.022. EXEMPTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS AND
MEDICATION AIDE TRAINEES. (a) Sections 142.021 and 142.029 do not
apply to:
(1) a graduate nurse holding a temporary permit issued
by the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(2) a student enrolled in an accredited school of
nursing or program for the education of registered nurses who is
administering medications as part of the student's clinical
experience;
(3) a graduate vocational nurse holding a temporary
permit issued by the Board of [Vocational] Nurse Examiners;
(4) a student enrolled in an accredited school of
vocational nursing or program for the education of vocational
nurses who is administering medications as part of the student's
clinical experience; or
(5) a trainee in a medication aide training program
approved by the department under Section 142.024 who is
administering medications as part of the trainee's clinical
experience.
(b) The administration of medications by persons exempted
under Subdivisions (1) through (4) of Subsection (a) is governed by
the terms of the memorandum of understanding executed by the
department and the Board of Nurse Examiners [or the department and
the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners, as appropriate].
SECTION 2.008. Section 242.607, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 242.607. EXEMPTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS AND
MEDICATION AIDE TRAINEES. (a) Sections 242.606 and 242.614 do not
apply to:
(1) a graduate nurse holding a temporary permit issued
by the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(2) a student enrolled in an accredited school of
nursing or program for the education of registered nurses who is
administering medications as part of the student's clinical
experience;
(3) a graduate vocational nurse holding a temporary
permit issued by the Board of [Vocational] Nurse Examiners;
(4) a student enrolled in an accredited school of
vocational nursing or program for the education of vocational
nurses who is administering medications as part of the student's
clinical experience; or
(5) a trainee in a medication aide training program
approved by the department under this subchapter who is
administering medications as part of the trainee's clinical
experience.
(b) The administration of medications by persons exempted
under Subdivisions (1) through (4) of Subsection (a) is governed by
the terms of the memorandum of understanding executed by the
department and the Board of Nurse Examiners [or the department and
the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners, as appropriate].
SECTION 2.009. Section 36.132(a)(2), Human Resources Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(2) "Licensing authority" means:
(A) the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
(B) the State Board of Dental Examiners;
(C) the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Psychologists;
(D) the Texas State Board of Social Worker
Examiners;
(E) the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(F) [the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners;
[(G)] the Texas Board of Physical Therapy
Examiners;
(G) [(H)] the Texas Board of Occupational
Therapy Examiners; or
(H) [(I)] another state agency authorized to
regulate a provider who receives or is eligible to receive payment
for a health care service under the Medicaid program.
SECTION 2.010. Section 101.002, Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 101.002. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. The council consists
of 15 members, with one member appointed by each of the following:
(1) the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
(2) the State Board of Dental Examiners;
(3) the Texas Optometry Board;
(4) the Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
(5) the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical
Examiners;
(6) the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners;
(7) the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
(8) the Board of Nurse Examiners, who must be a
registered nurse;
(9) the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Psychologists;
(10) the Board of [Vocational] Nurse Examiners, who
must be a vocational nurse;
(11) the Texas Funeral Service Commission;
(12) the entity that regulates the practice of
physical therapy;
(13) the entity that regulates the practice of
occupational therapy;
(14) the health licensing division of the Texas
Department of Health; and
(15) the governor's office.
SECTION 2.011. Section 203.402, Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 203.402. PROHIBITED REPRESENTATION. A midwife may
not:
(1) except as provided by Section 203.403, use in
connection with the midwife's name a title, abbreviation, or
designation tending to imply that the midwife is a "registered" or
"certified" midwife as opposed to one who is documented under this
chapter;
(2) advertise or represent that the midwife is a
physician or a graduate of a medical school unless the midwife is
licensed to practice medicine by the Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners;
(3) use advertising or an identification statement
that is false, misleading, or deceptive; or
(4) except as authorized by rules adopted by the Board
of Nurse Examiners [and the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners],
use in combination with the term "midwife" the term "nurse" or
another title, initial, or designation that implies that the
midwife is licensed as a registered nurse or licensed vocational
nurse.
SECTION 2.012. Section 304.002, Occupations Code, as added
by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session,
2001, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 304.002. ADMINISTRATION OF COMPACT. The executive
director [directors] of the Board of Nurse Examiners is [and the
Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners are] the Nurse Licensure
Compact administrator [administrators] for this state. [The
executive director of the Board of Nurse Examiners is responsible
for administering matters relating to registered nurses. The
executive director of the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners is
responsible for administering matters relating to licensed
vocational nurses.]
SECTION 2.013. Section 304.003, Occupations Code, as added
by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session,
2001, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 304.003. RULES. The Board of Nurse Examiners [and the
Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners] may adopt rules necessary to
implement this chapter.
SECTION 2.014. Sections 304.004(b) and (c), Occupations
Code, as added by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2001, are amended to read as follows:
(b) Unless the context indicates otherwise or doing so would
be inconsistent with the Nurse Licensure Compact, nurses practicing
in this state under a license issued by a state that is a party to
the Nurse Licensure Compact have the same rights and obligations as
imposed by the laws of this state on license holders of the Board of
Nurse Examiners [or the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners].
(c) The Board of Nurse Examiners has [and the Board of
Vocational Nurse Examiners have] the authority to determine whether
a right or obligation imposed on license holders applies to nurses
practicing in this state under a license issued by a state that is a
party to the Nurse Licensure Compact unless that determination is
inconsistent with the Nurse Licensure Compact.
SECTION 2.015. Section 304.005, Occupations Code, as added
by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session,
2001, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 304.005. ENFORCEMENT. The Board of Nurse Examiners is
[and the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners are] the state agency
[agencies] responsible for taking action against registered and
vocational nurses practicing in this state under a license issued
by a state that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact as
authorized by the Nurse Licensure Compact. The action shall be
taken in accordance with the same procedures for taking action
against registered and vocational nurses licensed by this state.
SECTION 2.016. Section 304.006(a), Occupations Code, as
added by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
(a) On request and payment of a reasonable fee, the Board of
Nurse Examiners [and the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners] shall
provide a registered or vocational nurse licensed by this state
with a copy of information regarding the nurse maintained by the
coordinated licensure information system under Article 7 of the
Nurse Licensure Compact.
SECTION 2.017. Section 304.007, Occupations Code, as added
by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session,
2001, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 304.007. ACCESS TO PRACTICE-RELATED INFORMATION.
Practice-related information provided by the Board of Nurse
Examiners [or the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners] to
registered or vocational nurses licensed by this state shall be
made available by the boards on request and at a reasonable cost to
nurses practicing in this state under a license issued by a state
that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact.
SECTION 2.018. Section 304.008(a), Occupations Code, as
added by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
(a) In reporting information to the coordinated licensure
information system under Article 7 of the Nurse Licensure Compact,
the Board of Nurse Examiners [and the Board of Vocational Nurse
Examiners] may disclose personally identifiable information about
the nurse, including social security number.
SECTION 2.019. Section 304.009(a), Occupations Code, as
added by Chapter 1420, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The governor may withdraw this state from the Nurse
Licensure Compact if the Board of Nurse Examiners [or the Board of
Vocational Nurse Examiners] notifies the governor that a state that
is party to the compact changed, after January 1, 1999, the state's
requirements for licensing a nurse and that the state's
requirements, as changed, are substantially lower than the
requirements for licensing a nurse in this state.
ARTICLE 3. REPEALER; TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 3.001. On February 1, 2004, the following laws are
repealed:
(1) Sections 302.002, 302.101, 302.104, 302.105,
302.106, 302.156, 302.157, 302.158, 303.002(a), Occupations Code;
and
(2) Subchapters B and E, Chapter 302, Occupations
Code.
SECTION 3.002. (a) This section provides for the
appointment of members to the Board of Nurse Examiners for terms
beginning February 1, 2004, to establish the staggering of members'
terms in accordance with Sections 301.051 and 301.054, Occupations
Code, as amended by this Act.
(b) The term of one of two registered nurse members of the
Board of Nurse Examiners scheduled to expire in 2007 expires
January 31, 2004. Those members shall draw lots to determine whose
term expires on that date. Effective February 1, 2004, the governor
shall appoint one person who is a nurse faculty member of a school
of nursing offering vocational nurse training to fill that vacancy
and to serve a term expiring January 31, 2007.
(c) Effective February 1, 2004, the governor shall appoint
one person who shall serve as a public member of the Board of Nurse
Examiners with a term expiring January 31, 2009, as provided under
Section 301.051, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act.
(d) Effective February 1, 2004, the governor shall appoint
three additional members to the Board of Nurse Examiners to serve in
the position of licensed vocational nurse, as provided under
Section 301.051, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. In
appointing those members, the governor shall appoint one person to
a term expiring January 31, 2005, one to a term expiring January 31,
2007, and one to a term expiring January 31, 2009.
SECTION 3.003. (a) On February 1, 2004:
(1) all functions and activities performed by the
Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners immediately before that date
are transferred to the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(2) a rule or form adopted by the Board of Vocational
Nurse Examiners is a rule or form of the Board of Nurse Examiners
and remains in effect until amended or replaced by that board;
(3) a reference in law or an administrative rule to the
Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners means the Board of Nurse
Examiners;
(4) a complaint, investigation, or other proceeding
before the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners is transferred
without change in status to the Board of Nurse Examiners, and the
Board of Nurse Examiners assumes, as appropriate and without a
change in status, the position of the Board of Vocational Nurse
Examiners in an action or proceeding to which the Board of
Vocational Nurse Examiners is a party;
(5) all money, contracts, leases, property, and
obligations of the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners are
transferred to the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(6) a license issued by the Board of Vocational Nurse
Examiners is a license of the Board of Nurse Examiners;
(7) an employee of the Board of Vocational Nurse
Examiners, except for the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners'
executive director, becomes an employee of the Board of Nurse
Examiners; and
(8) the unexpended and unobligated balance of any
money appropriated by the legislature for the Board of Vocational
Nurse Examiners related to Chapter 302, Occupations Code, is
transferred to the Board of Nurse Examiners.
(b) Before February 1, 2004, the Board of Vocational Nurse
Examiners may agree with the Board of Nurse Examiners to transfer
any property of the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners to the Board
of Nurse Examiners to implement the transfer required by this
section.
(c) In the period beginning on the effective date of this
Act and ending on January 31, 2004, the Board of Vocational Nurse
Examiners shall continue to perform functions and activities under
Chapter 302, Occupations Code, or other law as if that chapter or
other law had not been amended by this Act, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3.004. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
(b) Articles 1 and 2 of this Act take effect February 1,
2004.