By: Deuell S.B. No. 978 (S. Davis of Harris) A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to regulation by the Texas Medical Board of local anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks administered in an outpatient setting. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 162.103, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 162.103. APPLICABILITY. Rules adopted by the board under this subchapter do not apply to: (1) an outpatient setting in which only local anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used in a total dosage amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the recommended maximum safe dosage per outpatient visit; (2) a licensed hospital, including an outpatient facility of the hospital that is located separate from the hospital; (3) a licensed ambulatory surgical center; (4) a clinic located on land recognized as tribal land by the federal government and maintained or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization as listed by the United States secretary of the interior under 25 U.S.C. Section 479a-1 or as listed under a successor federal statute or regulation; (5) a facility maintained or operated by a state or local governmental entity; (6) a clinic directly maintained or operated by the United States; or (7) an outpatient setting accredited by: (A) The [the] Joint Commission [on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations] relating to ambulatory surgical centers; (B) the American Association for [the] Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities; or (C) the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section 162.103, Occupations Code, and rules adopted by the Texas Medical Board under Subchapter C, Chapter 162, Occupations Code, apply only to an outpatient setting in which only local anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used on or after the effective date of this Act. An outpatient setting in which only local anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the local anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.