By: Paxton S.B. No. 415
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to continuing education requirements for physicians
  regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 156.060, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 156.060.  CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE
  IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN
  TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) This section applies only to a
  physician who designates a direct patient care practice on an
  application for renewal of a registration permit.
         (b)  A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an
  application for renewal of a registration permit [and who
  designates a direct patient care practice] must complete at least
  one hour of continuing medical education under this section
  regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons:
               (1)  in the first renewal period following the issuance
  of the physician's initial registration permit under this chapter;
  and 
               (2)  if the board approves more than one course under
  Subsection (d), at least once in every third renewal period
  following the renewal period described by Subdivision (1)[, as part
  of the hours of continuing medical education required for
  compliance with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking
  prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the
  Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002].
         (c) [(b)]  The hours [board shall designate the human
  trafficking prevention course] required by Subsection (b):
               (1)  must be designated by the board [(a)] as [a]
  medical ethics or professional responsibility education; and
               (2)  may be counted toward the hours of [course for
  purposes of complying with] continuing medical education required
  by Section 156.051(a)(2).
         (d) [(c)]  The board shall adopt rules to implement this
  section, including rules to establish the content of and approval
  requirements for continuing medical education relating to the
  identification and assistance of trafficked persons. In adopting
  rules, the board shall seek input from affected parties and review
  relevant courses, including courses that have been approved in
  other states. Rules adopted under this section must provide for the
  identification and approval of accredited continuing medical
  education courses that represent an appropriate spectrum of
  relevant information relating to the identification and assistance
  of trafficked persons.
         (e)  A physician may satisfy the requirement of Subsection
  (b)(1) by completing at least one hour of a training course approved
  by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
  Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires
  September 1, 2025.
         (f)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a physician who on
  September 1, 2023, holds a license to practice medicine under this
  subtitle shall complete at least one hour of continuing medical
  education under this section regarding the identification and
  assistance of trafficked persons. This subsection expires January
  1, 2024.
         SECTION 2.  Section 156.060, Occupations Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an application for renewal of a
  registration permit to practice medicine submitted on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A renewal application submitted before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
  the date the application was submitted, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.