| 1 | 1 | | 89R4976 CMO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1972 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to requiring coursework in nutrition at public medical |
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| 10 | 10 | | schools. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 51.311 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 51.311. NUTRITION MEDICAL EDUCATION COURSEWORK. (a) |
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| 15 | 15 | | In this section, "medical school" means: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) a medical school as defined by Section 61.501; or |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) any other institution of higher education, as |
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| 18 | 18 | | defined by Section 61.003, or school, department, or college of |
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| 19 | 19 | | such an institution, that awards medical degrees. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) Each medical school shall include in the curriculum |
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| 21 | 21 | | required for a medical degree at least three hours of coursework in |
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| 22 | 22 | | nutrition. The coursework must cover, at a minimum, information |
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| 23 | 23 | | about: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (1) normal caloric intake for healthy adults; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) diet modifications for individuals with food |
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| 26 | 26 | | allergies, diabetes, or other chronic conditions that require diet |
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| 27 | 27 | | modification; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (3) the importance of proper nutrition as a primary |
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| 29 | 29 | | strategy to prevent certain diseases and conditions, such as |
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| 30 | 30 | | diabetes, hypertension, and obesity; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (4) additives commonly found in food and beverage |
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| 32 | 32 | | products produced in the United States, as opposed to food and |
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| 33 | 33 | | beverage products produced in foreign countries. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (c) The coursework required under Subsection (b) may not be |
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| 35 | 35 | | developed, funded, or influenced by a pharmaceutical company or a |
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| 36 | 36 | | food or beverage company. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (d) This section does not apply to the requirements for the |
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| 38 | 38 | | degree program of a student who entered the degree program at a |
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| 39 | 39 | | medical school before the 2026 spring semester. This subsection |
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| 40 | 40 | | expires January 1, 2032. |
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| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 42 | 42 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 43 | 43 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 44 | 44 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 45 | 45 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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