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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education in cultural competence and |
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implicit bias for certain physicians. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN CULTURAL COMPETENCE |
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AND IMPLICIT BIAS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Cultural competence" means, with respect to |
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health care, the ability to address the health issues of |
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individuals from diverse backgrounds effectively by applying |
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knowledge, empathy, and insight into the views on health that those |
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backgrounds present. |
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(2) "Implicit bias" means: |
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(A) bias in judgment or behavior that results |
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from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit attitudes and |
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implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious |
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awareness and without intentional control; or |
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(B) implicit attitudes and stereotypes that |
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result in beliefs or simple associations that a person makes |
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between an object and its evaluation that are automatically |
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activated by the mere presence, actual or symbolic, of the attitude |
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object. |
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(b) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an |
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application for renewal of a registration permit to practice |
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medicine and who practices in the area of general practice, |
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pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology shall include continuing |
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medical education in cultural competence and implicit bias among |
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the hours of continuing medical education completed for purposes of |
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rules adopted under Section 156.051(a)(2). |
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(c) The board shall adopt rules to establish the content of |
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continuing medical education relating to cultural competence and |
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implicit bias. The board may adopt other rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 31, 2022, the Texas |
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Medical Board shall adopt rules required by Section 156.061, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |