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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to abnormal skin growth education for certain occupational |
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license holders and to the liability of those license holders and |
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their employers for certain medical referrals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 201, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.165 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.165. COURSEWORK IN ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH. (a) The |
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board by rule shall approve coursework in abnormal skin growth for |
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purposes of Section 201.357. |
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(b) Coursework approved under Subsection (a) must include |
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training in identifying melanoma. |
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(c) An entity approved by the board to provide coursework |
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under Subsection (a) shall issue a certificate of completion to |
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each individual who successfully completes the coursework. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.357 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.357. COMPLETION OF ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH COURSEWORK |
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REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the board may |
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not issue an initial or renewal license to a person under this |
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chapter unless the person completes a course approved by the board |
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under Section 201.165 in abnormal skin growth education, including |
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training on identifying melanoma. Each applicant for issuance or, |
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if applicable, renewal of a license must provide proof of |
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completion of the course. |
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(b) A person who satisfies the requirements of Subsection |
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(a) is not required to complete additional coursework described by |
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that subsection for the subsequent renewal of that person's |
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license. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter J, Chapter 201, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.454 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.454. REFERRAL TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL REGARDING |
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ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH; LICENSE HOLDER AND EMPLOYER LIABILITY. (a) A |
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person licensed under this chapter who has completed coursework |
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approved by the board under Section 201.165 may refer an individual |
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to seek care from a medical professional regarding an abnormal skin |
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growth. |
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(b) A person licensed under this chapter who has completed |
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coursework approved by the board under Section 201.165 or the |
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person's employer may not be civilly or criminally liable for |
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acting in good faith or for failing to act on information obtained |
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during the course of practicing the person's profession or acting |
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within the scope of the person's employment concerning potential |
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abnormal skin growths. |
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(c) This section may not be construed to create a cause of |
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action or civil liability or to require or authorize a person |
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licensed under this chapter to practice medicine or otherwise |
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practice outside of the license holder's scope of practice. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 455, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 455.060 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 455.060. COURSEWORK IN ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH. (a) The |
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commission by rule shall approve coursework in abnormal skin growth |
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for purposes of Section 455.162. |
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(b) Coursework approved under Subsection (a) must include |
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training in identifying melanoma. |
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(c) An entity approved by the commission to provide |
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coursework under Subsection (a) shall issue a certificate of |
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completion to each individual who successfully completes the |
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coursework. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter D, Chapter 455, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 455.162 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 455.162. COMPLETION OF ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH COURSEWORK |
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REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the commission |
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may not issue an initial or renewal license to a person under this |
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chapter unless the person completes a course approved by the |
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commission under Section 455.060 in abnormal skin growth education, |
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including training on identifying melanoma. Each applicant for |
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issuance or, if applicable, renewal of a license must provide proof |
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of completion of the course. |
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(b) A person who satisfies the requirements of Subsection |
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(a) is not required to complete additional coursework described by |
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that subsection for the subsequent renewal of that person's |
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license. |
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SECTION 6. Subchapter E, Chapter 455, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 455.208 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 455.208. REFERRAL TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL REGARDING |
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ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH; LICENSE HOLDER AND EMPLOYER LIABILITY. (a) A |
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person licensed under this chapter who has completed coursework |
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approved by the commission under Section 455.060 may refer an |
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individual to seek care from a medical professional regarding an |
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abnormal skin growth. |
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(b) A person licensed under this chapter who has completed |
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coursework approved by the commission under Section 455.060 or the |
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person's employer may not be civilly or criminally liable for |
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|
acting in good faith or for failing to act on information obtained |
|
|
during the course of practicing the person's profession or acting |
|
|
within the scope of the person's employment concerning potential |
|
|
abnormal skin growths. |
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(c) This section may not be construed to create a cause of |
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action or civil liability or to require or authorize a person |
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licensed under this chapter to practice medicine or otherwise |
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|
practice outside of the license holder's scope of practice. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter C, Chapter 1603, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1603.107 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1603.107. COURSEWORK IN ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH. (a) The |
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commission by rule shall approve coursework in abnormal skin growth |
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for purposes of Section 1603.2110. |
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(b) Coursework approved under Subsection (a) must include |
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|
training in identifying melanoma. |
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(c) An entity approved by the commission to provide |
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coursework under Subsection (a) shall issue a certificate of |
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completion to each individual who successfully completes the |
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coursework. |
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SECTION 8. Subchapter E-1, Chapter 1603, Occupations Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 1603.2110 and 1603.2111 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 1603.2110. COMPLETION OF ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH |
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COURSEWORK REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the |
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commission may not issue an initial or renewal individual |
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practitioner license to a person under this chapter unless the |
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person completes a course approved by the commission under Section |
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1603.107 in abnormal skin growth education, including training on |
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identifying melanoma. Each applicant for issuance or, if |
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applicable, renewal of a license must provide proof of completion |
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|
of the course. |
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|
(b) A person who satisfies the requirements of Subsection |
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(a) is not required to complete additional coursework described by |
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that subsection for the subsequent renewal of that person's |
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license. |
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Sec. 1603.2111. REFERRAL TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL REGARDING |
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ABNORMAL SKIN GROWTH; LICENSE HOLDER AND EMPLOYER LIABILITY. (a) A |
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person licensed under this chapter who has completed coursework |
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approved by the commission under Section 1603.107 may refer an |
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|
individual to seek care from a medical professional regarding an |
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abnormal skin growth. |
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|
(b) A person licensed under this chapter who has completed |
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|
coursework approved by the commission under Section 1603.107 or the |
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person's employer may not be civilly or criminally liable for |
|
|
acting in good faith or for failing to act on information obtained |
|
|
during the course of practicing the person's profession or acting |
|
|
within the scope of the person's employment concerning potential |
|
|
abnormal skin growths. |
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(c) This section may not be construed to create a cause of |
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action or civil liability or to require or authorize a person |
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licensed under this chapter to practice medicine or otherwise |
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|
practice outside of the license holder's scope of practice. |
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SECTION 9. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas Board |
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of Chiropractic Examiners and the Texas Commission of Licensing and |
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Regulation shall adopt the rules necessary to implement this Act. |
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SECTION 10. Sections 201.357, 455.162, and 1603.2110, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply only to the issuance |
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of a license for which an application was submitted on or after |
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June 1, 2026, or to the renewal of a license that expires on or after |
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that date. The issuance of a license for which an application was |
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submitted before June 1, 2026, or the renewal of a license that |
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expires before that date is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the application was submitted or the license expired, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |