By: Bucy H.B. No. 3770
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the verification of health care practitioner continuing
  education compliance and the establishment of continuing education
  tracking systems by health care practitioner licensing entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 112.002, Occupations Code, is
  transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 112, Occupations Code,
  redesignated as Section 112.0501, Occupations Code, and amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 112.0501  [112.002].  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter
  [chapter] applies only to licensing entities and health care
  practitioners under Chapters 401, 453, and 454 and Subtitles B, C,
  D, E, F, and K.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 112, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
         Sec. 112.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Continuing education course" means a course,
  clinic, forum, lecture, program, or seminar that an individual must
  complete in order to maintain or renew a license.
               (2)  "Continuing education provider" means a person or
  entity authorized by a licensing entity to offer continuing
  education courses.
               (3)  "Continuing education tracking system" means a
  electronic system established by a licensing entity as required by
  Section 112.104.
               (4)  "License" means a license, certificate,
  registration, permit, or other form of authorization that:
                     (A)  is issued by a licensing entity; and
                     (B)  an individual must obtain to engage in a
  particular business, occupation, or profession.
         Sec. 112.102.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only
  to:
               (1)  a licensing entity that issues a license to a
  health care practitioner.
         Sec. 112.103.  CONTINUING EDUCATION COMPLIANCE REQUIRED FOR
  LICENSE RENEWAL. (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, a licensing
  entity shall not renew a health care practitioner's license unless
  the licensing entity verifies that the health care practitioner has
  complied with all continuing education requirements of the
  licensing entity.
         (b)  Verification of an applicant's compliance with
  continuing education requirements that is generated by the
  continuing education tracking system:
               (1)  satisfies the requirement of Subsection (a); and
               (2)  shall be used for all audits of health care
  practitioners conducted by the licensing entity.
         (c)  This section does not prohibit a licensing entity from
  imposing penalties under applicable statutes or rules for a health
  care practitioner's failure to comply with continuing education
  requirements.
         Sec. 112.104.  CONTINUING EDUCATION TRACKING SYSTEM;
  REQUIRED FUNCTIONS. (a)  Each licensing entity by rule shall
  establish a continuing education tracking system for universal use
  and accessibility by health care practitioners, licensing entity
  staff, and continuing education providers; Sec. 112.105.  DATA AND
  SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS  (a)  A continuing education tracking system
  may collect and use only:
               (1)  information that directly relates to a health care
  practitioner's compliance with continuing education requirements,
  including:
                     (A)  the name in which the health care
  practitioner's license is issued;
                     (B)  the health care practitioner's license
  number;
                     (C)  the license issue date;
                     (D)  the license expiration date; and
                     (E)  any other information disclosed to the public
  in response to a license verification request; and
               (2)  other information designated by licensing entity
  rule as necessary for the system's performance of a function
  required by this subchapter.
         (b)  A continuing education tracking system established
  under Section 112.104 must:
               (1)  represent no ongoing cost to the licensing agency;
               (2)  if the continuing education tracking system is a
  cloud-based system, be certified under the state risk and
  authorization management program established under Section
  2054.0593, Government Code;
               (3)  comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of
  1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et Sec. 112.107.  RULEMAKING.  A
  licensing entity shall adopt rules necessary to implement this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2024, each licensing
  entity shall implement a continuing education tracking system as
  required by Section 112.104, Occupations Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.