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AN ACT
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relating the administration of the Texas Physician Health Program; |
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the disciplinary authority of the Texas Medical Board; imposing a |
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surcharge. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 153, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 153.053 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 153.053. SURCHARGE TO ADMINISTER TEXAS PHYSICIAN |
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HEALTH PROGRAM. (a) The board shall collect an additional |
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surcharge not to exceed $15 for each of the following fees: |
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(1) first registration permit; and |
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(2) renewal of a registration permit. |
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(b) The board shall deposit each surcharge collected under |
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this section to the credit of the Texas physician health program |
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account. The Texas physician health program account is a special |
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account in the general revenue fund. Money in the special account |
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shall be appropriated only to the board to pay for administration of |
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the Texas Physician Health Program under Chapter 167, including |
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paying for an initial evaluation by the program's medical director |
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or the director's designee. Money in the special account may not be |
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used to pay for program participant costs incurred for monitoring |
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or for a program participant's own medical costs, including any |
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further required evaluations, primary treatment, or continuing |
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care. |
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(c) The board is authorized to collect the surcharge |
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established in (a) for all individuals licensed and regulated by |
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the board including all advisory boards and committees under this |
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title. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 153, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 153.055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 153.055. SURCHARGE FOR CERTAIN SEARCHES RELATED TO |
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LICENSE STATUS. (a) The board shall set and collect an additional |
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surcharge to cover the cost of administering a continuous query on |
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the National Practitioner Data Bank as required by Section |
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154.006(m). The surcharge shall be collected from each license |
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holder for: |
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(1) issuance of a first registration permit; and |
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(2) renewal of a registration permit. |
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(b) The board shall deposit each surcharge collected under |
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this section to the credit of the public assurance account |
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described by Section 153.0535(b). |
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(c) The board is authorized to collect the surcharge |
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established in (a) for all individuals licensed and regulated by |
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the board including all advisory boards and committees under this |
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title. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |