| 3 | 5 | | |
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| 4 | 6 | | |
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| 5 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 9 | | relating to participation by videoconference at informal |
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| 8 | 10 | | proceedings of the Texas Medical Board. |
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| 9 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 164.003, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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| 11 | 13 | | adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 14 | | (c-1) A license holder may reply to the staff's presentation |
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| 13 | 15 | | and present facts under Subsection (c) by videoconference under |
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| 14 | 16 | | Section 164.0033. |
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| 15 | 17 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 164, Occupations Code, is |
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| 16 | 18 | | amended by adding Section 164.0033 to read as follows: |
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| 17 | 19 | | Sec. 164.0033. APPEARANCE BY VIDEOCONFERENCE IN INFORMAL |
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| 18 | 20 | | PROCEEDINGS. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, and subject to |
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| 19 | 21 | | Section 164.003(b), the board may hold informal proceedings under |
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| 20 | 22 | | this chapter by videoconference or, if a respondent is unable to |
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| 21 | 23 | | participate by videoconference, by telephone conference call. |
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| 22 | 24 | | (b) The board may authorize the board's legal counsel, a |
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| 23 | 25 | | member of the board's staff, or any other person authorized or |
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| 24 | 26 | | required to participate in informal proceedings under this chapter |
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| 25 | 27 | | to participate by videoconference. |
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| 26 | 28 | | (c) The board shall adopt procedures for holding informal |
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| 27 | 29 | | proceedings by videoconference that ensure that each participant is |
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| 28 | 30 | | clearly visible and audible while that participant is speaking. |
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| 29 | 31 | | SECTION 3. Section 164.004, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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| 30 | 32 | | adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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| 31 | 33 | | (c) A license holder's appearance at an informal meeting by |
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| 32 | 34 | | videoconference as provided by Section 164.0033 constitutes |
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| 33 | 35 | | personal appearance under this section. |
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| 34 | 36 | | SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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| 35 | 37 | | informal proceedings under Chapter 164, Occupations Code, that |
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| 36 | 38 | | occur on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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| 37 | 39 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 38 | 40 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 39 | 41 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 40 | 42 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 41 | 43 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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