BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2299
86R12567 MAW-D	By: Guerra (Flores)
	Health & Human Services
	5/2/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

There are concerns that physicians traveling with high school, college, and professional athletic teams from another state who are licensed in their home state but not licensed in Texas may be considered as noncompliant under Texas licensing law when providing medical treatment to team members. H.B. 2299 seeks to address these concerns by exempting these physicians from certain licensing requirements and authorizing the physicians to engage in the practice of medicine in Texas under certain conditions.

H.B. 2299 amends current law relating to an exemption from licensing requirements for physicians associated with certain sports teams.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 151, Occupations Code, by adding Section 151.0521, as follows:

Sec. 151.0521. EXEMPTION FOR SPORTS TEAM PHYSICIAN. Provides that a person is exempt from the licensing requirements of this subtitle (Physicians) and is authorized to engage in the practice of medicine in this state if the person:

(1) is employed or designated as a team physician by a sports team visiting this state for a specific sporting event;

(2) is licensed to practice medicine in the team's home state; and

(3) limits the person's practice of medicine in this state to treating, during the period beginning on the date the team arrives in this state for the event and ending on the date the team leaves this state:

(A) the members, coaches, and staff of the team; and

(B) a family member of a person described by Paragraph (A) if the family member is visiting this state for the event.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 451.003, Occupations Code, to add a physician engaged in the practice of medicine as authorized by Section 151.0521 to a list of persons to which this chapter (Athletic Trainers) does not apply.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.