87R9837 BEE-F     By: Blanco S.B. No. 1705       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to continuing education requirements for physicians and   nurses regarding human trafficking.          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 approved by the board   regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons    [, 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)  shall 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)  The board shall:                (1)  approve courses that may be completed to satisfy   the requirement of Subsection (b), including at least one course   that is available without charge; and                (2)  maintain a list of approved courses on the board's   Internet website.          (e)  In approving courses as required by Subsection (d)(1),   the board shall consider for approval training courses conducted by   health care facilities.          (f) [(c)]  The board shall adopt rules to implement this   section, including a rule establishing a procedure to send a timely   reminder to a physician of the continuing medical education   requirement under this section.          (g)  A physician may satisfy the requirement of Subsection   (b) 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, 2023.          SECTION 2.  Section 301.308, Occupations Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 301.308.  CONTINUING EDUCATION REGARDING THE   IDENTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS [IN HUMAN   TRAFFICKING PREVENTION]. (a) As part of a continuing competency   program under Section 301.303, a license holder who provides direct   patient care shall complete in each renewal period at least one hour   of continuing education approved by the board regarding the   identification and assistance of trafficked persons [a human   trafficking prevention course approved by the executive   commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission under   Section 116.002].          (b)  The board shall:                (1)  approve courses that may be completed to satisfy   the requirement of Subsection (a), including at least one course   that is available without charge; and                (2)  maintain a list of approved courses on the board's   Internet website.          (c)  In approving courses as required by Subsection (b)(1),   the board shall consider for approval training courses conducted by   health care facilities.          (c-1)  A license holder may satisfy the requirement of   Subsection (a) 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, 2023.          (d)  The board shall adopt rules to implement this section,   including a rule establishing a procedure to send a timely reminder   to a license holder of the continuing education requirement under   this section.          SECTION 3.  Sections 156.060 and 301.308, Occupations Code,   as amended by this Act, apply only to an application for renewal of   a registration permit to practice medicine or a license to practice   nursing 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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.