87R9837 BEE-F
By: Blanco S.B. No. 1705
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to continuing education requirements for physicians and
nurses regarding human trafficking.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 156.060, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 156.060. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE
IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN
TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) This section applies only to a
physician who designates a direct patient care practice on an
application for renewal of a registration permit.
(b) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an
application for renewal of a registration permit [and who
designates a direct patient care practice] must complete at least
one hour of continuing medical education approved by the board
regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons
[, as part of the hours of continuing medical education required for
compliance with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking
prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the
Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002].
(c) [(b)] The hours [board shall designate the human
trafficking prevention course] required by Subsection (b):
(1) shall be designated by the board [(a)] as [a]
medical ethics or professional responsibility education; and
(2) may be counted toward the hours of [course for
purposes of complying with] continuing medical education required
by Section 156.051(a)(2).
(d) The board shall:
(1) approve courses that may be completed to satisfy
the requirement of Subsection (b), including at least one course
that is available without charge; and
(2) maintain a list of approved courses on the board's
Internet website.
(e) In approving courses as required by Subsection (d)(1),
the board shall consider for approval training courses conducted by
health care facilities.
(f) [(c)] The board shall adopt rules to implement this
section, including a rule establishing a procedure to send a timely
reminder to a physician of the continuing medical education
requirement under this section.
(g) A physician may satisfy the requirement of Subsection
(b) by completing at least one hour of a training course approved by
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires
September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. Section 301.308, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 301.308. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE
IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN
TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) As part of a continuing competency
program under Section 301.303, a license holder who provides direct
patient care shall complete in each renewal period at least one hour
of continuing education approved by the board regarding the
identification and assistance of trafficked persons [a human
trafficking prevention course approved by the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission under
Section 116.002].
(b) The board shall:
(1) approve courses that may be completed to satisfy
the requirement of Subsection (a), including at least one course
that is available without charge; and
(2) maintain a list of approved courses on the board's
Internet website.
(c) In approving courses as required by Subsection (b)(1),
the board shall consider for approval training courses conducted by
health care facilities.
(c-1) A license holder may satisfy the requirement of
Subsection (a) by completing at least one hour of a training course
approved by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires
September 1, 2023.
(d) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section,
including a rule establishing a procedure to send a timely reminder
to a license holder of the continuing education requirement under
this section.
SECTION 3. Sections 156.060 and 301.308, Occupations Code,
as amended by this Act, apply only to an application for renewal of
a registration permit to practice medicine or a license to practice
nursing submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. A
renewal application submitted before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was
submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.