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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration by certain health care professionals |
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of treatments, therapy, or medication ordered by an optometrist or |
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therapeutic optometrist. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 301.002(2), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "Professional nursing" means the performance of an |
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act that requires substantial specialized judgment and skill, the |
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proper performance of which is based on knowledge and application |
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of the principles of biological, physical, and social science as |
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acquired by a completed course in an approved school of |
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professional nursing. The term does not include acts of medical |
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diagnosis or the prescription of therapeutic or corrective |
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measures. Professional nursing involves: |
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(A) the observation, assessment, intervention, |
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evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel, or health teachings |
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of a person who is ill, injured, infirm, or experiencing a change in |
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normal health processes; |
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(B) the maintenance of health or prevention of |
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illness; |
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(C) the administration of a medication or |
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treatment as ordered by a physician, podiatrist, [or] dentist, or |
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therapeutic optometrist; |
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(D) the supervision or teaching of nursing; |
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(E) the administration, supervision, and |
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evaluation of nursing practices, policies, and procedures; |
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(F) the requesting, receiving, signing for, and |
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distribution of prescription drug samples to patients at practices |
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at which an advanced practice registered nurse is authorized to |
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sign prescription drug orders as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter |
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157; |
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(G) the performance of an act delegated by a |
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physician under Section 157.0512, 157.054, 157.058, or 157.059; and |
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(H) the development of the nursing care plan. |
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SECTION 2. Section 453.001(9), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(9) "Referring practitioner" means a qualified |
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licensed health care professional who, within the scope of |
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professional licensure, may refer a person for health care |
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services. The term includes: |
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(A) a physician licensed to practice medicine by |
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a state board of medical examiners; |
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(B) a dentist licensed by a state board of dental |
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examiners; |
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(C) a chiropractor licensed by a state board of |
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chiropractic examiners; [and] |
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(D) a podiatrist licensed by a state board of |
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podiatric medical examiners; and |
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(E) an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist |
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licensed by a state board of optometry. |
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SECTION 3. Section 454.213(b), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Implementation of direct occupational therapy to a |
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person for a specific health care condition must be based on a |
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referral from: |
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(1) a physician licensed by a state board of medical |
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examiners; |
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(2) a dentist licensed by a state board of dental |
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examiners; |
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(3) a chiropractor licensed by a state board of |
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chiropractic examiners; |
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(4) a podiatrist licensed by a state board of |
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podiatric medical examiners; [or] |
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(5) an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist |
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licensed by a state board of optometry; or |
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(6) another qualified, licensed health care |
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professional who is authorized to refer for health care services |
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within the scope of the professional's license. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2015. |