| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to examination requirements for certain applicants for a |
|
|
license to practice medicine. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 155.051, Occupations Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) The time frame to pass each part of the examination does |
|
|
not apply to an applicant who: |
|
|
(1) is licensed and in good standing as a physician in |
|
|
another state; |
|
|
(2) has been licensed for at least five years; |
|
|
(3) does not hold a medical license in the other state |
|
|
that has or has ever had any restrictions, disciplinary orders, or |
|
|
probation; and |
|
|
(4) will practice in a medically underserved area or a |
|
|
health manpower shortage area, as those terms are defined by |
|
|
Section 157.052. |
|
|
(e) The board may by rule establish a process to verify that |
|
|
a person, after meeting the requirements of Subsection (d), |
|
|
practices only in an area described by Subsection (d)(4). |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 155.056, Occupations Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(a) An applicant must pass: |
|
|
(1) each individual part of an examination within five |
|
|
[three] attempts; and |
|
|
(2) all parts of an examination collectively within |
|
|
nine attempts. |
|
|
(d) The limitation on examination attempts by an applicant |
|
|
under Subsection (a) does not apply to: |
|
|
(1) an applicant who[:
|
|
|
[(1)
is licensed and in good standing as a physician in
|
|
|
another state;
|
|
|
[(2) has been licensed for at least five years;
|
|
|
[(3)
does not hold a medical license in the other state
|
|
|
that has any restrictions, disciplinary orders, or probation; and
|
|
|
[(4)
passed all but one part of the examination
|
|
|
approved by the board within three attempts and:
|
|
|
[(A)
passed the remaining part of the examination
|
|
|
within one additional attempt; or
|
|
|
[(B)
passed the remaining part of the examination
|
|
|
within six attempts if the applicant:
|
|
|
[(i)] is specialty board certified by a |
|
|
specialty board that: |
|
|
(A) [(a)] is a member of the American Board of |
|
|
Medical Specialties; or |
|
|
(B) [(b)] is approved by the American |
|
|
Osteopathic Association; or |
|
|
(2) an applicant who: |
|
|
(A) is licensed and in good standing as a |
|
|
physician in another state; |
|
|
(B) has been licensed for at least five years; |
|
|
(C) does not hold a medical license in the other |
|
|
state that has or has ever had any restrictions, disciplinary |
|
|
orders, or probation; and |
|
|
(D) will practice in a medically underserved area |
|
|
or a health manpower shortage area, as those terms are defined by |
|
|
Section 157.052[; and
|
|
|
[(ii)
has completed in this state an
|
|
|
additional two years of postgraduate medical training approved by
|
|
|
the board]. |
|
|
(e) The board may by rule establish a process to verify that |
|
|
a person who, after meeting the requirements of Subsection (d)(2), |
|
|
practices only in an area described by Subsection (d)(2)(D). |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2013. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |