| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to requiring a private autopsy facility to post a notice |
|
|
for filing a complaint against a physician; providing a penalty. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 8, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Chapter 671A to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 671A. NOTICE REQUIRED AT PRIVATE AUTOPSY FACILITY |
|
|
Sec. 671A.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "private |
|
|
autopsy facility" means a facility that is owned or operated by a |
|
|
physician who performs autopsy services for a fee or that employs a |
|
|
physician to perform autopsy services for a fee, including autopsy |
|
|
services performed on the order of a justice of the peace. The term |
|
|
does not include a medical examiner's office. |
|
|
Sec. 671A.002. NOTICE FOR COMPLAINTS REQUIRED. (a) A |
|
|
private autopsy facility shall post a notice in a conspicuous place |
|
|
in a public area of the facility that substantially complies with |
|
|
the notice published by the Texas Medical Board under this section. |
|
|
(b) The notice must state in English and in Spanish that a |
|
|
person may file with the Texas Medical Board a complaint against a |
|
|
physician who performs autopsy services and must include the |
|
|
appropriate mailing address and telephone number of the Texas |
|
|
Medical Board for filing complaints against physicians. |
|
|
(c) The Texas Medical Board by rule shall adopt a sample |
|
|
form of the notice. The board shall publish the notice on the |
|
|
board's Internet website. |
|
|
Sec. 671A.003. CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO POST NOTICE. |
|
|
(a) A private autopsy facility commits an offense if the facility |
|
|
fails to post the notice required by this chapter. |
|
|
(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2012, the Texas Medical |
|
|
Board shall publish the notice as required by Section 671A.002, |
|
|
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
|
|
section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
|
|
(b) Section 671A.003, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act, takes effect January 1, 2012. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |