BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 424
By: Carona
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, an applicant for a license to practice medicine in this state must pass each part of an examination described by Section 155.0511, Occupations Code, within seven years. Section 155.051(b) provides an exception to this requirement for an applicant who is a graduate of a program designed to lead to both a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree. Currently these applicants must pass each part of the examination not later than the second anniversary of the date the applicant was awarded a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree. This requirement is not in concert with the majority of states and has resulted in Texas losing highly qualified physicians, especially in the realm of academia.
S.B. 424 amends Section 155.05, Texas Occupations Code, to make it commensurate with the regulations of other states. This bill provides a license to practice medicine in this state to an applicant who passes each part of the examinations described in Section 155.0511, Occupations Code, within ten years. This bill also grants licensure to practice medicine in the state to applicants who have graduated from programs designed to lead to both a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree provided that those applicants pass each part of the examination not later than the second anniversary of the date the applicant completed the graduate medical training described by Section 155.003(a)(5) (regarding successful completion of one year of graduate medical training approved by the board in the United States or Canada; or graduation from a medical school located outside the United States or Canada and successful completion of three years of graduate medical training approved by the board in the United States or Canada).
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 155.051, Occupations Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:
(b) Requires certain medical graduates to pass an examination not later than the second anniversary of the date the applicant completed the graduate medical training described by Section 155.003(a)(5) (regarding successful completion of one year of graduate medical training approved by the board in the United States or Canada; or graduation from a medical school located outside the United States or Canada and successful completion of three years of graduate medical training approved by the board in the United States or Canada), rather than the second anniversary from the date the applicant was awarded a doctor of medicine degree or doctor of osteopathy degree.
(c) Provides that the time frame to pass each part of the examination described by Subsection (a) (pertaining to a license to practice medicine in this state) is extended to 10 years and the anniversary date to pass each part of the examination described by Subsection (b) is extended to the 10th anniversary if the applicant meets certain requirements.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.