S.B. No. 144




AN ACT

relating to the requirement that certain information be provided to 
health care practitioners regarding the use and abuse of certain 
drugs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Sections 153.014 and 153.015 to read as follows:
	Sec. 153.014.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 153.015.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The board 
shall provide to license holders information regarding the services 
provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 202, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Sections 202.160 and 202.161 to read as follows:
	Sec. 202.160.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 202.161.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The board 
shall provide to license holders information regarding the services 
provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 254, Occupations Code, is amended by 
adding Sections 254.013 and 254.014 to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.013.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 254.014.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The board 
shall provide to license holders information regarding the services 
provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Sections 301.1581 and 301.1582 to read as 
follows:
	Sec. 301.1581.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 301.1582.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The 
board shall provide to license holders information regarding the 
services provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 5.  Subchapter D, Chapter 302, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Sections 302.1551 and 302.1552 to read as 
follows:
	Sec. 302.1551.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 302.1552.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The 
board shall provide to license holders information regarding the 
services provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 6.  Subchapter D, Chapter 351, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Sections 351.166 and 351.167 to read as follows:
	Sec. 351.166.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 351.167.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The board 
shall provide to license holders information regarding the services 
provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 7.  Subchapter A, Chapter 554, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Sections 554.014 and 554.015 to read as follows:
	Sec. 554.014.  INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS.  At 
least once each biennium, the board shall provide to license 
holders information on:
		(1)  prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with 
particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled 
substances;
		(2)  abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons 
who use prescription pain medications;
		(3)  common diversion strategies employed by certain 
persons who use prescription pain medications, including 
fraudulent prescription patterns; and
		(4)  the appropriate use of pain medications and the 
differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and 
physical dependence.
	Sec. 554.015.  POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION.  The board 
shall provide to license holders information regarding the services 
provided by poison control centers.
	SECTION 8.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                      
	(b)  A state agency that is subject to this Act shall develop 
materials that contain the information required by this Act not 
later than January 1, 2004.  The materials described by this section 
may be provided by electronic or other means.  The state agencies 
that are subject to this Act shall:
		(1)  cooperate in developing the materials; and                               
		(2)  ensure, to the extent possible, that the same 
information is contained in the materials used by each agency.

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 144 passed the Senate on 
March 31, 2003, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate concurred 
in House amendments on May 29, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 144 passed the House, with 
amendments, on May 25, 2003, by a non-record vote.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor