| 1 | 1 | | 2025S0040-1 01/23/25 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Sparks S.B. No. 903 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to continuing education requirements for certain |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | physicians regarding adoption. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS ON |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | TEXAS ADOPTION LAW. (a) A physician who submits an application |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | for the renewal of a license and whose practice includes treating |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | pregnant women must complete at least one hour of continuing |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | education in Texas adoption law. The continuing education must |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | include instruction on: |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (1) the process to voluntarily terminate the rights of |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | an alleged biological father under Section 161.002, Family Code, |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | for the purpose of adoption; |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (2) the process to terminate parental rights before |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | birth or after birth under Sections 161.002 and 161.003, Family |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | Code; |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (3) the ability of a mother to authorize the release of |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | her newborn child from the hospital or birthing center to a licensed |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | child-placing agency, the Department of Family and Protective |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Services, or another designated person as provided by Section |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 161.108, Family Code; |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (4) the terms regarding limited post-termination |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | contact under Section 161.2061, Family Code; |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (5) accepting possession of an abandoned child under |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | Section 262.302, Family Code; |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (6) financial assistance available to an expectant |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | mother who decides to place her baby for adoption as provided by |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Section 25.08, Penal Code; and |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (7) the differences between private adoption and |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | foster care adoption, including: |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | (A) the processes and legal requirements for |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | private adoption versus foster care adoption; |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (B) the role of private adoption agencies versus |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | the Department of Family and Protective Services in facilitating |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | adoptions; |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | (C) support services available to expectant |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | mothers and adoptive families in each process; and |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | (D) the rights and responsibilities of birth |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | parents, adoptive parents, and the state in private and foster care |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | adoptions. |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | (b) A physician must complete the hours required by |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | Subsection (a) in each of the first two renewal periods following |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | the issuance of the physician's initial registration permit under |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | this chapter, with at least one hour to be completed not later than |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | the first anniversary of the date of issuance. |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | (c) After the period described by Subsection (b), a |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | physician must complete at least two hours of continuing education |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | described by Subsection (a) every eight years. |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | (d) The hours required by this section may count toward the |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | continuing education requirements of Section 156.051(a)(2). |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | (e) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section, |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | ensuring that the content and delivery of the continuing education |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | align with current medical standards and guidelines. |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | Medical Board shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | in law made by this Act. |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|