78R5379 DWS-F


By:  Cook of Colorado                                             H.B. No. 3213



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of veterinarians to form a professional 
association.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 2(A), Texas Professional Association Act 
(Article 1528f, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read 
as follows:
	(A)  Formation.  Any one or more persons duly licensed to 
practice a profession, including podiatry, dentistry, [or] 
optometry, [or] therapeutic optometry, [or] chiropractic, or 
veterinary medicine, under the laws of this state may, by complying 
with this Act, form a professional association, as distinguished 
from either a partnership or a corporation, by associating 
themselves for the purpose of performing professional services and 
dividing the gains therefrom as stated in articles of association 
or bylaws.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.