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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of certain aliens for a license to |
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practice medicine in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 155.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 155.0045. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR |
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CERTAIN ALIENS. (a) A license applicant who is not a United States |
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citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in |
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the United States must present proof satisfactory to the board that |
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the applicant has practiced medicine or has signed an agreement to |
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practice medicine as a condition of the license for at least three |
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years in an area in this state that is designated by the United |
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States Department of Health and Human Services as a health |
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professional shortage area or a medically underserved area. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit the board from issuing |
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a license to an applicant described by that subsection who is |
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applying for a license to practice medicine at a graduate medical |
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training program in this state that is not in an area described by |
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that subsection. |
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(c) The board shall adopt rules and procedures to implement |
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this section, including rules to determine whether the applicant is |
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complying with the agreement required under Subsection (a). |
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(d) The board by rule may limit the license to practice |
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medicine of an applicant described by Subsection (a) to an area in |
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this state that is designated by the United States Department of |
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Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area or |
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a medically underserved area. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than May 1, 2008, the Texas Medical |
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Board shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section |
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155.0045, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an application for an initial license to practice medicine made on |
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or after September 1, 2008. An application for an initial license |
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to practice medicine made before that date and the subsequent |
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renewal of the license is covered by the law in effect when the |
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application was made, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |