Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB284 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 05/10/2021

                    BILL ANALYSIS             S.B. 284     By: Seliger     Public Health     Committee Report (Unamended)             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    During the COVID-19 pandemic, certain Texas licensing requirements for out-of-state licensed physicians were waived, which allowed qualifying individuals to temporarily practice in Texas. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of transparency relating to complaints filed with respect to physicians practicing during the pandemic as a result of the waiver of those requirements. S.B. 284 seeks to address this issue by requiring a report by the Texas Medical Board regarding the basic performance of out-of-state licensed physicians who practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic under the disaster emergency licensure rule.       CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.       RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.       ANALYSIS    S.B. 284 requires the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to conduct a study regarding out-of-state physicians who practiced medicine in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to TMB rules providing for the waiver of licensing requirements during disasters and emergencies. The bill requires the TMB, in conducting the study, to solicit and consider information from hospitals and sponsoring physicians in Texas, as applicable, regarding the performance of those physicians. The bill requires the TMB, not later than December 1, 2022, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the TMB, a written report that includes a summary of the study and any legislative recommendations based on the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2023.       EFFECTIVE DATE    On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.          

BILL ANALYSIS

# BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 284
By: Seliger
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)

S.B. 284

By: Seliger

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    During the COVID-19 pandemic, certain Texas licensing requirements for out-of-state licensed physicians were waived, which allowed qualifying individuals to temporarily practice in Texas. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of transparency relating to complaints filed with respect to physicians practicing during the pandemic as a result of the waiver of those requirements. S.B. 284 seeks to address this issue by requiring a report by the Texas Medical Board regarding the basic performance of out-of-state licensed physicians who practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic under the disaster emergency licensure rule.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS    S.B. 284 requires the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to conduct a study regarding out-of-state physicians who practiced medicine in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to TMB rules providing for the waiver of licensing requirements during disasters and emergencies. The bill requires the TMB, in conducting the study, to solicit and consider information from hospitals and sponsoring physicians in Texas, as applicable, regarding the performance of those physicians. The bill requires the TMB, not later than December 1, 2022, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the TMB, a written report that includes a summary of the study and any legislative recommendations based on the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2023.
EFFECTIVE DATE    On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, certain Texas licensing requirements for out-of-state licensed physicians were waived, which allowed qualifying individuals to temporarily practice in Texas. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of transparency relating to complaints filed with respect to physicians practicing during the pandemic as a result of the waiver of those requirements. S.B. 284 seeks to address this issue by requiring a report by the Texas Medical Board regarding the basic performance of out-of-state licensed physicians who practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic under the disaster emergency licensure rule.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY 

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS 

 

S.B. 284 requires the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to conduct a study regarding out-of-state physicians who practiced medicine in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to TMB rules providing for the waiver of licensing requirements during disasters and emergencies. The bill requires the TMB, in conducting the study, to solicit and consider information from hospitals and sponsoring physicians in Texas, as applicable, regarding the performance of those physicians. The bill requires the TMB, not later than December 1, 2022, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the TMB, a written report that includes a summary of the study and any legislative recommendations based on the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2023.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.