87R1875 BEE-D
By: Thierry H.B. No. 194
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to continuing education in cultural competence and
implicit bias for certain physicians.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN CULTURAL COMPETENCE
AND IMPLICIT BIAS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Cultural competence" means, with respect to
health care, the ability to address the health issues of
individuals from diverse backgrounds effectively by applying
knowledge, empathy, and insight into the views on health that those
backgrounds present.
(2) "Implicit bias" means:
(A) bias in judgment or behavior that results
from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit attitudes and
implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious
awareness and without intentional control; or
(B) implicit attitudes and stereotypes that
result in beliefs or simple associations that a person makes
between an object and its evaluation that are automatically
activated by the mere presence, actual or symbolic, of the attitude
object.
(b) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an
application for renewal of a registration permit to practice
medicine and who practices in the area of general practice,
pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology shall include continuing
medical education in cultural competence and implicit bias among
the hours of continuing medical education completed for purposes of
rules adopted under Section 156.051(a)(2).
(c) The board shall adopt rules to establish the content of
continuing medical education relating to cultural competence and
implicit bias. The board may adopt other rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 31, 2022, the Texas
Medical Board shall adopt rules required by Section 156.061,
Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.