By: Nelson  S.B. No. 189
         (In the Senate - Filed November 9, 2010; January 31, 2011,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
  Services; February 22, 2011, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; February 22, 2011, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the eligibility of certain aliens for a license to
  practice medicine in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 155.0045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 155.0045.  ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR
  CERTAIN ALIENS.  (a)  A license applicant who is not a United States
  citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in
  the United States must present proof satisfactory to the board that
  the applicant has practiced medicine or has signed an agreement to
  practice medicine as a condition of the license for at least three
  years in an area in this state that is designated by the United
  States Department of Health and Human Services as a health
  professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not prohibit the board from issuing
  a license to an applicant described by that subsection who is
  applying for a license to practice medicine at a graduate medical
  training program in this state that is not in an area described by
  that subsection.
         (c)  The board shall adopt rules and procedures to implement
  this section, including rules to determine whether the applicant is
  complying with the agreement required under Subsection (a).
         (d)  The board by rule may limit the license to practice
  medicine of an applicant described by Subsection (a) to an area in
  this state that is designated by the United States Department of
  Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area or
  a medically underserved area.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than May 1, 2012, the Texas Medical
  Board shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section
  155.0045, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an application for an initial license to practice medicine made on
  or after September 1, 2012. An application for an initial license
  to practice medicine made before that date and the subsequent
  renewal of the license is covered by the law in effect when the
  application was made, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
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