By: Coleman (Senate Sponsor - Gallegos) H.B. No. 1567

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2011; April 26, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; May 9, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 9, 2011, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain counties to appoint, contract for, or employ physicians, dentists, or other health care providers for county jails.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 351, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 351.045 to read as follows:

Sec. 351.045. EMPLOYMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more may appoint, contract for, or employ licensed physicians, dentists, or other health care providers to provide health care services to inmates in the custody of the sheriff.

(b) This section may not be construed as authorizing a commissioners court to supervise or control the practice of medicine as prohibited by Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, or to supervise or control the practice of dentistry as prohibited by Subtitle D, Title 3, Occupations Code.

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, 2011.

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