78R4536 YDB-D
By: Madla S.B. No. 558
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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. On
receipt of an application from a foreign applicant for the
expedited processing of a license under Section 155.1025(a)(2),
Occupations Code, 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.
SECTION 2. Section 155.1025(a), 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 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is repealed.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.