BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1978

By: Sheffield

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties believe that physician assistants are not as willing to provide services to charitable organizations, or in times of disaster, because of concerns regarding potential liability exposure. H.B. 1978 seeks to limit a physician assistant's liability for providing such services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1978 amends the Occupations Code to exempt the performance of medical tasks by a physician assistant as a volunteer for a charitable organization or at a public or private event from the supervision and delegation requirements applicable to physicians and physician assistants. The bill establishes that a physician assistant performing medical tasks as a volunteer for a charitable organization or at a public or private event is acting within the scope of the physician assistant's license for purposes of volunteer immunity from civil liability.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.