81R1043 BEF-D
By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 202
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to provisional licensing of physicians to practice in
underserved areas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 155.101 to read as follows:
Sec. 155.101. PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN CERTAIN
AREAS. (a) On application, the board shall grant a provisional
license to practice medicine in a location described by Subsection
(c) to an applicant for a license under this subtitle who:
(1) is licensed in good standing as a physician in
another state that has licensing requirements that are
substantially equivalent to the requirements of this subtitle;
(2) has passed a national or other examination
recognized by the board relating to the practice of medicine; and
(3) is sponsored by a person licensed under this
subtitle with whom the provisional license holder may practice
under this section.
(b) The board may excuse an applicant for a provisional
license from the requirement of Subsection (a)(3) if the board
determines that compliance with that subsection constitutes a
hardship to the applicant.
(c) A person who holds a provisional license issued under
this section may only practice medicine in a location:
(1) designated by the federal government as a health
professional shortage area; or
(2) designated by the federal or state government as a
medically underserved area.
(d) A provisional license is valid until the date the board
approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for
a license. The board shall issue a license under this subtitle to
the holder of a provisional license under this section if:
(1) the provisional license holder passes the
examination required by Section 155.051; and
(2) the provisional license holder satisfies any other
license requirements under this subtitle.
(e) The board shall complete the processing of a provisional
license holder's application for a license not later than the 180th
day after the date the provisional license is issued. The board may
extend that deadline to allow for the receipt of pending
examination results.
SECTION 2. Section 155.101, Occupations Code, as added by
this Act, applies to an application for a provisional license
submitted on or after January 1, 2010.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.