|
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the authority of a community health center to contract |
|
with or employ an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 351, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 351.367 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 351.367. CONTRACT OR EMPLOYMENT WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH |
|
CENTERS. (a) In this section, "community health center" means a |
|
health organization that: |
|
(1) is a nonprofit corporation under the Texas |
|
Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's |
|
Texas Civil Statutes) and Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code |
|
of 1986; and |
|
(2) is organized and operated as: |
|
(A) a migrant, community, or homeless health |
|
center under the authority of and in compliance with 42 U.S.C. |
|
Section 254b or 254c; or |
|
(B) a federally qualified health center under 42 |
|
U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B). |
|
(b) The board by rule shall certify a health organization to |
|
contract with or employ an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist |
|
if the organization: |
|
(1) applies for certification on a form approved by |
|
the board; and |
|
(2) presents proof satisfactory to the board that the |
|
organization is a community health center. |
|
(c) A community health center that contracts with or employs |
|
an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist under this section may |
|
not control or attempt to control the professional judgment of the |
|
optometrist or therapeutic optometrist. |
|
SECTION 2. 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, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1476 passed the Senate on |
|
April 30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1476 passed the House on |
|
May 15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, one present |
|
not voting. |
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
|
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Governor |