89R17105 DNC-F
By: Cunningham H.B. No. 5114
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to continuing medical education requirements for certain
physicians regarding adoption.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REGARDING TEXAS
ADOPTION LAW. (a) A physician licensed under this subtitle who
submits an application for renewal of a registration permit and
whose practice includes treating pregnant women must complete not
less than two hours of continuing medical education related to
Texas adoption law.
(b) Continuing medical education under this section must
include education regarding:
(1) procedures for the termination of the parental
rights of an alleged biological father for the purpose of adoption
under Section 161.002, Family Code;
(2) procedures for the voluntary termination of
parental rights before and after birth under Sections 161.102 and
161.103, Family Code;
(3) procedures for a mother to authorize the release
of her newborn child from a hospital or birthing center to a
licensed child placing agency, the Department of Family and
Protective Services, or another designated person under Section
161.108, Family Code;
(4) terms regarding limited post-termination contact
that may be included in an order terminating the parent-child
relationship under Section 161.2061, Family Code;
(5) provisions for a designated emergency infant care
provider to take possession of an abandoned child under Section
262.302, Family Code;
(6) financial assistance that a child-placing agency
may pay to an expectant mother as described by Section 25.08(b)(4),
Penal Code; and
(7) differences between private adoption and foster
care adoption, including:
(A) the processes and legal requirements for
private adoption and foster care adoption;
(B) the role of private adoption agencies and the
Department of Family and Protective Services with respect to
facilitating adoption;
(C) support services available to expectant
mothers and adoptive families through private adoption and foster
care adoption; and
(D) the rights and responsibilities of birth
parents, adoptive parents, and this state in private adoption and
foster care adoption.
(c) A physician must complete the hours required by
Subsection (a) in each of the first two renewal periods following
the issuance of the physician's initial registration permit under
this chapter, with at least one hour to be completed not later than
the first anniversary of the date of issuance.
(d) After the period described by Subsection (c), a
physician must complete not less than two hours of continuing
medical education described by Subsection (b) every eight years.
(e) The hours required by this section may be counted toward
the hours of continuing medical education completed to comply with
Section 156.051(a)(2).
(f) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section,
including rules establishing content and approval requirements to
ensure the continuing medical education described by this section
aligns with current medical standards and guidelines.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
Medical Board shall adopt the rules necessary to implement the
changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.