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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for issuance of a license to practice |
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orthotics and prosthetics. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 605.252(b) and (c), Occupations Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The requirements for a license established by board rule |
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must include the requirement that the applicant hold: |
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(1) a bachelor's or graduate degree in orthotics and |
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prosthetics from: |
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(A) an education program recognized and |
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accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health |
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Education Programs that is offered at an institution of higher |
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education; or |
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(B) a practitioner education program that has |
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education standards that are equivalent to or exceed the standards |
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adopted by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health |
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Education Programs; or |
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(2) a bachelor's degree in another subject and an |
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orthotic or prosthetic certificate issued by a practitioner |
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education program: |
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(A) recognized and accredited by the Commission |
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on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or |
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(B) that has education standards that are |
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equivalent to or exceed the standards adopted by the Commission on |
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Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. |
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(c) To meet the clinical residency requirements for a |
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license, the applicant must complete a [at least 1,900 hours of] |
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professional clinical residency that meets the requirements |
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established by board rule [under the direct supervision of a
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licensed orthotist, licensed prosthetist, or a licensed
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prosthetist orthotist in the discipline for which licensure is
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sought]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 605.258(a), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The board may issue a student registration certificate |
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to an individual who is working toward fulfilling the requirements |
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for a license as an orthotist, prosthetist, or prosthetist |
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orthotist and: |
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(1) holds either: |
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(A) [(1)] a bachelor's or graduate degree in |
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orthotics and prosthetics from: |
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(i) [(A)] an education program recognized |
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and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health |
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Education Programs that is offered at an institution of higher |
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education; or |
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(ii) [(B)] a practitioner education |
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program that has education standards that are equivalent to or |
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exceed the standards adopted by the Commission on Accreditation of |
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Allied Health Education Programs; or |
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(B) [(2)] a bachelor's degree in another |
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subject and an orthotic or prosthetic certificate issued by a |
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practitioner education program: |
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(i) [(A)] recognized and accredited by the |
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or |
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(ii) [(B)] that has education standards |
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that are equivalent to or exceed the standards adopted by the |
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or |
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(2) is a student who: |
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(A) is currently enrolled in a graduate program |
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in this state in orthotics and prosthetics that: |
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(i) is recognized and accredited by the |
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; |
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and |
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(ii) incorporates a professional clinical |
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residency that meets the requirements of rules adopted under |
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Section 605.252(c); and |
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(B) submits to the board a written certification |
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from the graduate program in which the student is enrolled that the |
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student has successfully completed the academic prerequisites to |
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enter a professional clinical residency. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter |
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605, Occupations Code, apply only to an application for a license or |
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student registration certificate submitted to the Texas Board of |
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Orthotics and Prosthetics on or after January 1, 2014. An |
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application submitted before January 1, 2014, is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. The Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics |
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shall adopt rules to implement the changes in law made by this Act |
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not later than December 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |