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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education requirements for physicians and |
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nurses regarding human trafficking. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 156.060, Occupations Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 156.060. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE |
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IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN |
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TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) This section applies only to a |
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physician who designates a direct patient care practice on an |
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application for renewal of a registration permit. |
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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 [and who |
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designates a direct patient care practice] must complete at least |
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one hour of continuing medical education approved by the board |
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regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons |
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[, as part of the hours of continuing medical education required for |
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compliance with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking |
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prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the |
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Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002]. |
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(c) [(b)] The hours [board shall designate the human |
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trafficking prevention course] required by Subsection (b): |
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(1) shall be designated by the board [(a)] as [a] |
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medical ethics or professional responsibility education; and |
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(2) may be counted toward the hours of [course for |
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purposes of complying with] continuing medical education required |
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by Section 156.051(a)(2). |
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(d) The board shall: |
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(1) approve courses that may be completed to satisfy |
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the requirement of Subsection (b), including at least one course |
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that is available without charge; and |
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(2) maintain a list of approved courses on the board's |
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Internet website. |
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(e) In approving courses as required by Subsection (d)(1), |
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the board shall consider for approval training courses conducted by |
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health care facilities. |
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(f) [(c)] The board shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including a rule establishing a procedure to send a timely |
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reminder to a physician of the continuing medical education |
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requirement under this section. |
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(g) A physician may satisfy the requirement of Subsection |
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(b) by completing at least one hour of a training course approved by |
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the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. Section 301.308, Occupations Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 301.308. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE |
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IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN |
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TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) As part of a continuing competency |
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program under Section 301.303, a license holder who provides direct |
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patient care shall complete in each renewal period at least one hour |
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of continuing education approved by the board regarding the |
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identification and assistance of trafficked persons [a human |
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trafficking prevention course approved by the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission under |
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Section 116.002]. |
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(b) The board shall: |
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(1) approve courses that may be completed to satisfy |
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the requirement of Subsection (a), including at least one course |
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that is available without charge; and |
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(2) maintain a list of approved courses on the board's |
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Internet website. |
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(c) In approving courses as required by Subsection (b)(1), |
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the board shall consider for approval training courses conducted by |
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health care facilities. |
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(c-1) A license holder may satisfy the requirement of |
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Subsection (a) by completing at least one hour of a training course |
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approved by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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(d) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section, |
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including a rule establishing a procedure to send a timely reminder |
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to a license holder of the continuing education requirement under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 156.060 and 301.308, Occupations Code, |
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as amended by this Act, apply only to an application for renewal of |
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a registration permit to practice medicine or a license to practice |
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nursing submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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renewal application submitted before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was |
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submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |