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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of temporary licenses for certain |
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out-of-state health care practitioners for a charitable purpose. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 117 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 117. TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR CERTAIN |
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OUT-OF-STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
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Sec. 117.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Health care practitioner" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 112.001. |
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(2) "Licensing entity" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 112.001. |
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(3) "Volunteer charity health care services" means |
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health care services provided by a health care practitioner without |
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compensation. |
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Sec. 117.002. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to |
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a licensing entity or health care practitioner regulated under: |
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(1) Chapter 204; |
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(2) Subchapter B, Chapter 256; |
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(3) Subtitle E; or |
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(4) Chapter 351. |
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Sec. 117.003. REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR |
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CHARITABLE PURPOSE. (a) Each licensing entity under this chapter |
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shall adopt rules providing for the issuance of temporary licenses |
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that authorize the license holders to provide voluntary charity |
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health care services. The term of the license may not exceed seven |
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days. |
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(b) If an applicant for a temporary license under this |
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chapter has an unacceptable licensing or criminal history, the |
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licensing entity may not issue a temporary license to the applicant |
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and the applicant may not provide voluntary charity health care |
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services. |
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(c) Each licensing entity by rule shall provide for adequate |
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supervision of each health care practitioner issued a temporary |
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license under this chapter by a health care practitioner licensed |
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under the laws of this state in the applicable profession. |
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(d) A health care practitioner issued a temporary license |
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under this chapter shall: |
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(1) limit the health care practitioner's practice to |
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only voluntary charity health care services within the scope of |
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practice of the applicable license; |
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(2) practice only in a geographic area specified by |
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the license; and |
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(3) practice only for the period specified by the |
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license. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Medical Board, the State Board of |
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Dental Examiners, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas |
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Optometry Board shall actively seek and apply for any available |
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federal financial assistance to support development and |
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implementation of temporary short-term licensing programs under |
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this chapter, including grants made available to states under the |
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Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (15 U.S.C. |
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Section 9001 et seq.) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 |
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(Pub. L. No. 116-260), and any other federal legislation to support |
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the provision of health care services in underserved areas during a |
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state of disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code, |
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related to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |