| 1 | 1 | | By: Nelson, Shapleigh S.B. No. 525 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to certain qualified alien physicians practicing medicine |
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| 7 | 7 | | in this state. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 12.0127, Health and |
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| 10 | 10 | | Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (a) The department, in accordance with 8 U.S.C. Sections |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1182 and 1184 [Section 1182(e), as amended, under exceptions |
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| 13 | 13 | | provided by 8 U.S.C. Section 1184(l), as amended], may request |
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| 14 | 14 | | waiver of the foreign country residence requirement for a qualified |
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| 15 | 15 | | alien physician who agrees to practice medicine in accordance with |
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| 16 | 16 | | the federal waiver requirements, provided priority is given to an |
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| 17 | 17 | | area with [a medically underserved area or health professional |
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| 18 | 18 | | shortage area, as designated by the United States Department of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Health and Human Services, that has] a current shortage of |
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| 20 | 20 | | physicians. |
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| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 22 | 22 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 23 | 23 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 24 | 24 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 25 | 25 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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