BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 674

By: Schwertner

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have raised concerns that Texas is currently facing a severe shortage of psychiatrists, as many counties are designated as mental health professional shortage areas.
S.B. 674 seeks to remedy this situation by creating an expedited licensing process for
out-of-state psychiatrists.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Medical Board in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 674 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Medical Board by rule to create and implement not later than January 1, 2018, an expedited licensing process for an applicant who holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine issued by another state, is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, and is not ineligible to practice medicine under the Medical Practice Act. The bill requires the expedited licensing process to include a procedure for the Texas Medical Board to screen applications under that act to determine whether an applicant would be eligible for the expedited licensing process under the bill's provisions. The bill prohibits the requirements for renewal of a registration permit for a license holder issued a license under the bill's provisions from being more stringent than the requirements for a license holder issued a license on a non-expedited basis. The bill authorizes the board to establish a fee for the expedited process. The bill expires on January 1, 2022.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.