BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1592
	By: LaMantia
	Health & Human Services
	5/31/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Radiation Advisory Board (TRAB) examines state radiation policies, programs, and proposed rules. The board focuses on reviewing and providing technical advice that is necessary for matters in accordance with the development, use, and regulation of radiation sources.

The board currently consists of 18 members representing a wide variety of industries and professions, including human healthcare specialists in pathology, radiation, nuclear medicine, and dentistry. Like their colleagues specializing in human medicine, veterinarians often use radiation to diagnose and treat their patients. Presently, veterinary medical professionals do not hold a designated seat on the TRAB. Because veterinary medicine is a profession in agriculture where radiation has a common use, the Health and Safety code Section 401.015(a)(3) reserves a seat for a representative for agriculture, which a veterinarian typically holds.

As filed, S.B. 1592 required the representative from agriculture in the TRAB to be a licensed veterinarian. As the only medical professionals who use radiation to treat animal patients, veterinarians are in a favorable position to represent the industry's interests on this board.

The substitute to S.B. 1592 instead adds a licensed veterinarian as a 19th member of the TRAB, instead of requiring the representative from agriculture to be a licensed veterinarian.

S.B. 1592 amends current law relating to the composition of the radiation advisory board.

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 401.015(a), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that the radiation advisory board is composed of the following 19 members, rather than 18 members, appointed by the governor:

(1)-(14) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(15) makes a nonsubstantive change to this subdivision;

(16) one individual licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME); and

(17) redesignates existing Subdivision (16) as Subdivision (17).

SECTION 2. Requires the governor to appoint an individual licensed by TBVME to the radiation advisory board as required by Section 401.015, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.