Bill Text: TX SB513 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the verification of the accuracy of an application for a license to practice medicine in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-17 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB513 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB513-Introduced.html
  88R6241 SCP-D
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 513
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the verification of the accuracy of an application for a
  license to practice medicine in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 152, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 152.060 to read as follows:
         Sec. 152.060.  CIVIL LIABILITY OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
  FAILURE TO VERIFY APPLICATION INFORMATION. (a) The executive
  director is liable to a claimant, including a decedent's estate,
  who has been harmed by a physician who holds a license to practice
  medicine in this state if:
               (1)  the executive director failed to verify that the
  physician was eligible for the license as required by Section
  155.007(a-1);
               (2)  verifying the eligibility of the physician would
  have revealed that the physician was ineligible for the license for
  a reason described by Section 155.003(e);
               (3)  the conduct that caused the harm by the physician
  in this state:
                     (A)  constitutes grounds for a health care
  liability claim under Chapter 74, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
  and 
                     (B)  involved the same type of conduct for which
  the physician was ineligible for the license;
               (4)  the failure to verify demonstrated gross
  negligence or intentional misconduct; and
               (5)  as a result of the failure to verify, the physician
  was issued the license.
         (b)  A claimant may recover economic damages as defined by
  Section 41.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and court costs
  in an action brought under this section.
         (c)  The executive director may not assert official immunity
  or other forms of immunity as a defense in an action described by
  Subsection (a).
         SECTION 2.  Section 155.007, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  The executive director shall, before making a
  determination of eligibility for purposes of Subsection (a),
  verify that the applicant is not ineligible for the license by:
               (1)  reviewing the report by the National Practitioner
  Data Bank or Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank
  regarding the disciplinary history of the applicant;
               (2)  for an applicant who holds or previously held a
  medical license in another state, obtaining verification from the
  licensing authority in that state that the applicant has not been
  subject to an investigation, restriction, suspension, revocation,
  or other disciplinary action by the licensing authority; and
               (3)  taking any other actions necessary to verify the
  accuracy of the information contained in the application.
         SECTION 3.  (a) Section 152.060, Occupations Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  Section 155.007(a-1), Occupations Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to an application for a license under
  Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, that is submitted on or after
  the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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