By: Nelson, Shapleigh, Uresti S.B. No. 86
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of certain aliens for a license to
practice medicine in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 155, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 155.0045 to read as follows:
Sec. 155.0045. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR
CERTAIN ALIENS. (a) A license applicant who is not a United States
citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in
the United States must present proof satisfactory to the board that
the applicant has practiced medicine or has signed an agreement to
practice medicine as a condition of the license for at least three
years in an area in this state that is designated by the United
States Department of Health and Human Services as a health
professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit the board from issuing
a license to an applicant described by that subsection who is
applying for a license to practice medicine at a graduate medical
training program in this state that is not in an area described by
that subsection.
(c) The board shall adopt rules and procedures to implement
this section, including rules to determine whether the applicant is
complying with the agreement required under Subsection (a).
(d) The board by rule may limit the license to practice
medicine of an applicant described by Subsection (a) to an area in
this state that is designated by the United States Department of
Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area or
a medically underserved area.
SECTION 2. Not later than May 1, 2010, the Texas Medical
Board shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section
155.0045, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an application for an initial license to practice medicine made on
or after September 1, 2010. An application for an initial license
to practice medicine made before that date and the subsequent
renewal of the license is covered by the law in effect when the
application was made, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.