83R6703 JSC-F By: Callegari H.B. No. 1803 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the renewal of a controlled substance registration by physicians. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 481.061(c), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) A separate registration is required at each principal place of business or professional practice where the applicant manufactures, distributes, analyzes, dispenses, or possesses a controlled substance[. However], except that the director may not require separate registration for: (1) a physician licensed under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code; or (2) a practitioner engaged in research with a nonnarcotic controlled substance listed in Schedules II through V if the registrant is already registered under this subchapter in another capacity. SECTION 2. Section 481.063(g), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (g) Except as otherwise provided by Section 481.0645 for a physician licensed under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, a [A] registration is valid until the first anniversary of the date of issuance and may be renewed annually under rules adopted by the director, unless a rule provides for a longer period of validity or renewal. SECTION 3. Section 481.064(a), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The director may charge a nonrefundable fee of not more than $25 before processing an application for annual registration and may charge a late fee of not more than $50 for each application for renewal the department receives after the date the registration expires. The director by rule shall set the amounts of the fees at the amounts that are necessary to cover the cost of administering and enforcing this subchapter. Except as provided by Subsection (b) or Section 156.004, Occupations Code, registrants shall pay the fees to the director. Not later than 60 days before the date the registration expires, the director shall send a renewal notice to the registrant at the last known address of the registrant according to department records, unless the registrant is a physician to whom notice of expiration is provided under Section 156.004, Occupations Code. SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 481.0645 to read as follows: Sec. 481.0645. REGISTRATION, RENEWAL, AND FEES FOR PHYSICIANS. (a) The registration under this chapter of a physician licensed under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, is valid for a period of not more than two years and expires on the same date the physician's registration permit issued by the Texas Medical Board under Chapter 156, Occupations Code, expires. (b) A physician may renew the physician's registration under this chapter by remitting to the Texas Medical Board, along with the physician's registration permit renewal and fee under Chapter 156, Occupations Code: (1) the required application for renewal described by Section 481.063; and (2) the fee specified in Section 481.064(a). (c) The director shall adopt any rules necessary to administer this section. (d) To the extent of any conflict between this section and any other law, this section controls. SECTION 5. Subchapter A, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 156.0035 to read as follows: Sec. 156.0035. RENEWAL OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE REGISTRATION. (a) The board shall accept the renewal application and fee submitted by a physician under Section 481.0645, Health and Safety Code, for a registration under Subchapter C, Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code. (b) The board by rule shall adopt a procedure for submitting a registration renewal application and remitting the registration fee to the Department of Public Safety. SECTION 6. Section 156.004, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 156.004. NOTICE OF EXPIRATION. (a) At least 30 days before the date on which a physician's registration permit expires, the [The] board shall send [a registration permit renewal application notice] to each physician at the physician's last known address according to the board's records: (1) a [at least 30 days before the expiration date of the] registration permit renewal application notice; and (2) a renewal notice for the physician's registration with the Department of Public Safety under Subchapter C, Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code. (b) The board shall provide for a 30-day grace period for renewing the registration permit from the date of the expiration of the permit. SECTION 7. (a) The changes in law made to Subchapter C, Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a registration under that subchapter that expires on or after the effective date of this Act. (b) The changes in law made to Chapter 156, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a registration permit under that chapter that expires on or after the effective date of this Act. (c) An unexpired registration under Subchapter C, Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, held by a physician on the effective date of this Act expires on the date on which the registration permit issued to the physician under Chapter 156, Occupations Code, expires. SECTION 8. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.