BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1502
87R12153 BEE-D	By: Buckingham
	Health & Human Services
	4/6/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In 2017, the 85th Legislature passed S.B. 1148 which sought to address burdensome conditions that required certain physicians to undergo an additional recertification process, known as Maintenance of Certification (MOC), in order to maintain national board certifications. Physicians licensed to practice medicine in the state are already required to meet rigorous testing and continuing medical education (CME) standards, including specific training related to a physician's specialty. The bill addressed burdensome MOC conditions, passed the legislature, and was signed into effect by the governor.

However, interested parties have raised concerns that the Texas Medical Board still takes into account a physician's MOC status, despite the passage of S.B. 1148. S.B. 1502 simply clarifies that for the purposes of state law, a physician's initial board certification is sufficient to be considered a board certified specialist in Texas for the purposes of licensure.

S.B. 1502 amends Section 156.001 of the Occupations Code by adding Subsection (g) which stipulates that the initial CME exam certifies the physician with the specialty board for all purposes of the state.

As proposed, S.B. 1502 amends current law relating to a determination by the Texas Medical Board of a physician's specialty board certification.

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 Section 156.001, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (g), as follows:

(g) Provides that a determination by the Texas Medical Board (TMB) regarding whether a physician is specialty board certified:

(1) is required to be based on the physician's initial specialty board certification by a specialty board organization acceptable to TMB; and

(2) is prohibited from being based on the physician's maintenance of certification after the physician's initial specialty board certification.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.