79R10898 JMM-F


By:  Branch                                                       H.B. No. 567

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 567:                                    

By:  Laubenberg                                               C.S.H.B. No. 567



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the deadline for passing the examination for a license 
to practice medicine in this state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 155.051, Occupations Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 155.051.  EXAMINATION REQUIRED.  (a)  Except as 
provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b) and (c), an applicant for 
a license to practice medicine in this state must pass each part of 
an examination described by Section 155.0511(2), (3), (4), (6), or 
(7) within seven years.
	(b)  An applicant who is a graduate of a program designed to 
lead to both a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of medicine 
degree or doctor of osteopathy degree must pass each part of an 
examination described by Section 155.0511(2), (3), (4), (6), or (7) 
not later than the second anniversary of the date the applicant 
completed the graduate medical training described by Section 
155.003(a)(5) [was awarded a doctor of medicine degree or doctor of 
osteopathy degree].
	(c)  The time in which an applicant must pass each part of the 
examinations described by Subsections (a) and (b) shall be extended 
to 10 years for an applicant who:
		(1)  is specialty board certified by a specialty board 
that is a member of:
			(A)  the American Board of Medical Specialties; or                    
			(B)  the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists; or                        
		(2)  has been issued a faculty temporary license, as 
prescribed by board rule, and has practiced under that license for 
at least 12 months and at the conclusion of the 12-month period has 
been recommended to the board by the chief administrative officer 
and the president of the institution at which the applicant 
practiced under that license.
	SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to  a 
person who files an application with the Texas State Board of 
Medical Examiners for a license to practice medicine in this state 
on or after the effective date of this Act or whose license 
application is pending on the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  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, 2005.