BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 61

By: Nelson

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties report that some physicians serving military personnel and veterans in Texas are licensed in another state and are therefore currently unable to provide charitable care to other patient populations in Texas, such as the uninsured. Such parties assert that the creation of a military limited volunteer license that allows active and retired military physicians who do not hold a Texas medical license could assist the state in providing charitable healthcare. S.B. 61 seeks to direct the Texas Medical Board to create a military limited volunteer license for active and retired military physicians who meet certain requirements.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Medical Board in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 61 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Medical Board to adopt rules relating to the issuance of a military limited volunteer license.  The bill authorizes a physician to practice medicine under a military limited volunteer license only at a clinic that primarily treats indigent patients. The bill prohibits the physician from receiving compensation for medical services rendered at the clinic. The bill specifies that a military limited volunteer license holder is subject to Texas Medical Board rules, including rules regarding disciplinary action, license registration and renewal, and continuing medical education.  The bill sets out the license applicants to whom the board is authorized to issue such a license and the applicants to whom the board is prohibited from issuing such a license.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.