87R9317 DRS-D
By: Powell S.B. No. 1857
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of temporary licenses for certain
out-of-state health care practitioners for a charitable purpose.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 117 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 117. TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR CERTAIN
OUT-OF-STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSE
Sec. 117.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Health care practitioner" has the meaning
assigned by Section 112.001.
(2) "Licensing entity" has the meaning assigned by
Section 112.001.
(3) "Volunteer charity health care services" means
health care services provided by a health care practitioner without
compensation.
Sec. 117.002. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
a licensing entity or health care practitioner regulated under:
(1) Chapter 204;
(2) Subchapter B, Chapter 256;
(3) Subtitle E; or
(4) Chapter 351.
Sec. 117.003. REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR
CHARITABLE PURPOSE. (a) Each licensing entity under this chapter
shall adopt rules providing for the issuance of temporary licenses
that authorize the license holders to provide voluntary charity
health care services. The term of the license may not exceed seven
days.
(b) If an applicant for a temporary license under this
chapter has an unacceptable licensing or criminal history, the
licensing entity may not issue a temporary license to the applicant
and the applicant may not provide voluntary charity health care
services.
(c) Each licensing entity by rule shall provide for adequate
supervision of each health care practitioner issued a temporary
license under this chapter by a health care practitioner licensed
under the laws of this state in the applicable profession.
(d) A health care practitioner issued a temporary license
under this chapter shall:
(1) limit the health care practitioner's practice to
only voluntary charity health care services within the scope of
practice of the applicable license;
(2) practice only in a geographic area specified by
the license; and
(3) practice only for the period specified by the
license.
SECTION 2. The Texas Medical Board, the State Board of
Dental Examiners, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas
Optometry Board shall actively seek and apply for any available
federal financial assistance to support development and
implementation of temporary short-term licensing programs under
this chapter, including grants made available to states under the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (15 U.S.C.
Section 9001 et seq.) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
(Pub. L. No. 116-260), and any other federal legislation to support
the provision of health care services in underserved areas during a
state of disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code,
related to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.