HBA-DMD, PDH H.B. 1409 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1409
By: Junell
Public Safety
3/26/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a person in Texas may not operate a school bus for the
transportation of students unless that person meets certain medical and
physical capability requirements during an annual physical examination.
Under current Texas law, the performance of the physical examination is
limited to doctors. However, federal regulations allow advanced practice
nurses to perform physical examinations for commercial motor vehicle
drivers, including bus drivers. 

H.B. 1409 authorizes a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathic medicine,
advanced nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to conduct the required
examination in order to determine a person's mental and physical
capabilities to safely operate a school bus. This bill also authorizes an
ophthalmologist or optometrist to conduct the part of the examination
relating to the person's vision. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 521.022(c), Transportation Code, to authorize a
doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathic medicine, advanced nurse
practitioner, or physician assistant to conduct the required examination to
determine a person's mental and physical capabilities to safely operate a
school bus.  Authorizes an ophthalmologist or optometrist to conduct the
part of the examination relating to the person's vision. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.