S.B. No. 558
AN ACT
relating to immigration visa waivers for physicians.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 12.0127 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.0127. IMMIGRATION VISA WAIVERS FOR PHYSICIANS.
(a) The department, in accordance with 8 U.S.C. Section 1182(e),
as amended, under exceptions provided by 8 U.S.C. Section 1184(l),
as amended, may request waiver of the foreign country residence
requirement for a qualified alien physician who agrees to practice
medicine in a medically underserved area or health professional
shortage area, as designated by the United States Department of
Health and Human Services, that has a current shortage of
physicians.
(b) The department may charge a fee to cover the costs
incurred by the department in administering the visa waiver program
established under this section.
SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 155.1025, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The board shall adopt rules for expediting any
application for a license under this subtitle made by a person who
is licensed to practice medicine in another state or country and who
submits an affidavit with the application stating that:
(1) the applicant intends to practice in a rural
community, as determined by the Office of Rural Community Affairs
[Center for Rural Health Initiatives]; or
(2) the applicant:
(A) has requested and is eligible for an
immigration visa waiver as described by Section 12.0127, Health and
Safety Code; and
(B) intends to practice medicine[:
[(A) accept employment with an entity located] in
a medically underserved area or health professional shortage area,
designated by the United States Department of Health and Human
Services, that has a current shortage of physicians [and affiliated
with or participating in a public university-sponsored graduate
medical education program;
[(B) serve on the faculty of the public
university-sponsored graduate medical education program; and
[(C) engage in the practice of medicine and
teaching in a specialty field of medicine that is necessary to
obtain or maintain the accreditation of the public
university-sponsored graduate medical education program by the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education].
SECTION 3. Section 51.949, Education Code, as added by
Chapter 1293, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001,
is repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 558 passed the Senate on March
27, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 9, 2003, by a viva-voce
vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 558 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 1, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor