Bill Text: TX SB415 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Relating to continuing education requirements for physicians regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-19 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB415 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB415-Enrolled.html

---

S.B. No. 415

AN ACT
relating to continuing education requirements for physicians
regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 156.060, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 156.060. CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE
IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN
TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) This section applies only to a
physician who designates a direct patient care practice on an
application for renewal of a registration permit.
(b) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an
application for renewal of a registration permit [and who
designates a direct patient care practice] must complete at least
one hour of continuing medical education under this section
regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons:
(1) in the first renewal period following the issuance
of the physician's initial registration permit under this chapter;
and
(2) if the board approves more than one course under
Subsection (d), at least once in every third renewal period
following the renewal period described by Subdivision (1)[, as part
of the hours of continuing medical education required for
compliance with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking
prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the
Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002].
(c) [(b)] The hours [board shall designate the human
trafficking prevention course] required by Subsection (b):
(1) must be designated by the board [(a)] as [a]
medical ethics or professional responsibility education; and
(2) may be counted toward the hours of [course for
purposes of complying with] continuing medical education required
by Section 156.051(a)(2).
(d) [(c)] The board shall adopt rules to implement this
section, including rules to establish the content of and approval
requirements for continuing medical education relating to the
identification and assistance of trafficked persons. In adopting
rules, the board shall seek input from affected parties and review
relevant courses, including courses that have been approved in
other states. Rules adopted under this section must provide for the
identification and approval of accredited continuing medical
education courses that represent an appropriate spectrum of
relevant information relating to the identification and assistance
of trafficked persons.
(e) A physician may satisfy the requirement of Subsection
(b)(1) by completing at least one hour of a training course approved
by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission under Section 116.002. This subsection expires
September 1, 2025.
(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a physician who on
September 1, 2023, holds a license to practice medicine under this
subtitle shall complete at least one hour of continuing medical
education under this section regarding the identification and
assistance of trafficked persons. This subsection expires January
1, 2024.
SECTION 2. Section 156.060, Occupations Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to an application for renewal of a
registration permit to practice medicine submitted on or after the
effective date of this Act. A renewal application submitted before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
the date the application was submitted, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 415 passed the Senate on
March 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 415 passed the House on
May 6, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 128, Nays 6,
two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor