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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 2299

By: Guerra

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

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.  

 

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. 2299 amends the Occupations Code to exempt a person from the licensing requirements of the Medical Practice Act and authorize the person to engage in the practice of medicine in Texas if the following conditions are satisfied:

·         the person is employed or designated as a team physician by a sports team visiting Texas for a specific sporting event;

·         the person is licensed to practice medicine in the team's home state; and

·         the person's practice of medicine in Texas is limited to treating, during the period beginning on the date the team arrives in Texas for the event and ending on the date the team leaves Texas, the team's members, coaches, and staff and such a person's family member who is visiting Texas for the event.

The bill exempts a sports team physician engaged in the practice of medicine as authorized by the bill from the application of statutory provisions relating to athletic trainers.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.