By: Harrison H.B. No. 5074
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the issuance of a license to practice medicine to
  certain applicants licensed or educated in a foreign country.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 155.012 and 155.013 to read as follows:
         Sec. 155.012.  ISSUANCE OF LICENSE TO APPLICANT LICENSED TO
  PRACTICE MEDICINE IN CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Notwithstanding
  Sections 155.003, 155.004, 155.005, and 155.051, the board shall
  issue a license to practice medicine to an applicant who presents
  proof satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
               (1)  is a resident of and licensed in good standing to
  practice medicine in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, New
  Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, or the United
  Kingdom;
               (2)  has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or
  a substantially similar degree by a program of medical education
  determined by the board to be in good standing in accordance with
  board rule;
               (3)  has:
                     (A)  completed a residency or substantially
  similar post-graduate medical training in the applicant's country
  of residence; or
                     (B)  practiced as a medical professional
  performing the duties of a physician in the applicant's country of
  residence for not less than two years;
               (4)  has proficiency in the English language; and
               (5)  is authorized under federal law to work in the
  United States.
         Sec. 155.013.  ISSUANCE OF LICENSE TO GRADUATE OF CERTAIN
  BOARD-APPROVED FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAMS. (a) Notwithstanding
  Sections 155.003, 155.004, and 155.005, the board shall issue a
  license to practice medicine to an applicant who satisfies:
               (1)  the eligibility requirements of this section; and
               (2)  the examination requirements of Section 155.051.
         (b)  To be eligible for a license under this section, an
  applicant must present proof satisfactory to the board that the
  applicant:
               (1)  has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or
  a substantially similar degree by a foreign medical program
  approved under Subsection (c);
               (2)  is licensed in good standing to practice medicine
  in another country;
               (3)  has:
                     (A)  completed a residency or substantially
  similar post-graduate medical training in the applicant's country
  of licensure; or
                     (B)  practiced as a medical professional
  performing the duties of a physician in the applicant's country of
  licensure for not less than two years;
               (4)  has proficiency in the English language; and
               (5)  is authorized under federal law to work in the
  United States.
         (c)  The board shall adopt rules regarding the approval of
  foreign medical programs for purposes of this section. Rules
  adopted under this subsection must provide that a foreign medical
  program is eligible to apply under this section only if the program
  is a medical school, residency program, medical internship program,
  or other entity that provides medical education or training outside
  of the United States that is substantially similar to the education
  or training provided by a medical school described by Section
  155.003(a)(4).
         (d)  The board shall approve an application under this
  section not later than the 120th day after the date the application
  is submitted unless:
               (1)  the board determines the applicant does not meet
  the eligibility requirements described by Subsection (c); or
               (2)  the board finds by clear and convincing evidence
  that the majority of the program's graduates are not likely to
  provide medical care that satisfies applicable board standards
  relating to safety, competency, or professional conduct in the
  practice of medicine.
         (e)  A foreign medical program may appeal the board's denial
  of the program's application under this section. The appeal is
  considered to be a contested case under Chapter 2001, Government
  Code.
         (f)  The board shall approve for purposes of this section a
  foreign medical program if at least five graduates of the program
  have been issued a license to practice medicine under Section
  155.1015(c).
         (g)  The board shall maintain on the board's Internet website
  a list of all foreign medical programs approved under this section
  and provide a copy of the list on request.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 155.1015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 155.1015.  ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO CERTAIN
  FOREIGN MEDICAL PROGRAM GRADUATES WITH OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a)
  On application, the board shall issue a provisional license to
  practice medicine to an applicant who:
               (1)  has been granted a degree of doctor of medicine or
  a substantially similar degree by a foreign program of medical
  education determined to be in good standing in accordance with
  board rule;
               (2)  is licensed in good standing to practice medicine
  in another country;
               (3)  has:
                     (A)  completed a residency or substantially
  similar post-graduate medical training in the applicant's country
  of licensure; or
                     (B)  practiced as a medical professional
  performing the duties of a physician in the applicant's country of
  licensure for not less than two years;
               (4)  has proficiency in the English language;
               (5)  is authorized under federal law to work in the
  United States;
               (6)  passes the examination required by Section
  155.051; and
               (7)  has been offered employment in this state as a
  physician by a person who provides health care services in the
  normal course of business, including a health system, hospital,
  hospital-based facility, freestanding emergency facility, or
  urgent care clinic.
         (b)  A provisional license issued under this section expires
  on the earlier of:
               (1)  the date the board issues the provisional license
  holder a license under this subtitle or denies the provisional
  license holder's application for a license under Subsection (c); or
               (2)  the third anniversary of the date the provisional
  license was issued.
         (c)  On application, the board shall issue a license under
  this subtitle to the holder of a provisional license under this
  section if the provisional license holder:
               (1)  will have practiced under the provisional license
  for at least three years at the time the license will be issued;
               (2)  passes the examination required by Section
  155.051; and
               (3)  satisfies any other requirement under board rule
  for the issuance of a license under this subsection.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
  Medical Board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Sections
  155.012, 155.013, and 155.1015, Occupations Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.