HBA-DMH H.B. 1018 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1018
By: Hardcastle
Public Health
7/2/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Many rural communities in Texas are experiencing a shortage of health care
professionals. To help rural and medically underserved areas recruit
physicians, House Bill 1018 requires the Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners to implement an expedited licensing process for foreign and
out-of-state applicants who are already licensed and who intend to practice
in a capacity that helps to reduce  the shortage. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 155.1025, Occupations Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1018 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas State
Board of Medical Examiners (TSBME) to adopt rules for expediting any
application for a license to practice medicine made by a person who is
licensed to practice medicine in another state or country and who submits
an affidavit with the application stating that the applicant intends to
practice medicine in a rural community, as determined by the Center for
Rural Health Initiatives or that the applicant intends to be employed in a
specified capacity that will assist in reducing the health professional
shortage.  The bill requires TSBME to notify the Texas Department of Health
(TDH) on  receipt of an application for expedited processing. 

On receipt of an application from a foreign applicant for the expedited
processing of a license, the bill requires TDH to request the United States
Department of State to recommend the waiver of applicable federal law for
not more than 20 qualified alien physicians each year who agree, beginning
not later than the 90th day after the date of approval of the waiver and
continuing for at  least three years, to accept employment in a specified
capacity that will assist in reducing the health professional shortage. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 16, 2001.