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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education requirements for physicians |
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regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 156.060, Occupations Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 156.060. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE |
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IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN |
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TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) This section applies only to a |
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physician who designates a direct patient care practice on an |
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application for renewal of a registration permit. |
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(b) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an |
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application for renewal of a registration permit [and who |
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designates a direct patient care practice] must complete at least |
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one hour of continuing medical education under this section |
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regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons: |
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(1) in the first renewal period following the issuance |
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of the physician's initial registration permit under this chapter; |
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and |
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(2) if the board approves more than one course under |
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Subsection (d), at least once in every third renewal period |
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following the renewal period described by Subdivision (1)[, as part |
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of the hours of continuing medical education required for |
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compliance with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking |
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prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the |
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Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002]. |
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(c) [(b)] The hours [board shall designate the human |
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trafficking prevention course] required by Subsection (b): |
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(1) must be designated by the board [(a)] as [a] |
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medical ethics or professional responsibility education; and |
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(2) may be counted toward the hours of [course for |
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purposes of complying with] continuing medical education required |
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by Section 156.051(a)(2). |
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(d) [(c)] The board shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules to establish the content of and approval |
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requirements for continuing medical education relating to the |
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identification and assistance of trafficked persons. In adopting |
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rules, the board shall seek input from affected parties and review |
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relevant courses, including courses that have been approved in |
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other states. Rules adopted under this section must provide for the |
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identification and approval of accredited continuing medical |
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education courses that represent an appropriate spectrum of |
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relevant information relating to the identification and assistance |
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of trafficked persons. |
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(e) A physician may satisfy the requirement of Subsection |
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(b)(1) by completing at least one hour of a training course approved |
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by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires |
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September 1, 2025. |
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(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a physician who on |
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September 1, 2023, holds a license to practice medicine under this |
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subtitle shall complete at least one hour of continuing medical |
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education under this section regarding the identification and |
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assistance of trafficked persons. This subsection expires January |
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1, 2024. |
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SECTION 2. Section 156.060, Occupations Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to an application for renewal of a |
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registration permit to practice medicine submitted on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A renewal application submitted before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
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the date the application was submitted, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |