87R9317 DRS-D     By: Powell S.B. No. 1857       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the issuance of temporary licenses for certain   out-of-state health care practitioners for a charitable purpose.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 117 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 117. TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR CERTAIN    OUT-OF-STATE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSE          Sec. 117.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Health care practitioner" has the meaning   assigned by Section 112.001.                (2)  "Licensing entity" has the meaning assigned by   Section 112.001.                (3)  "Volunteer charity health care services" means   health care services provided by a health care practitioner without   compensation.           Sec. 117.002.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to   a licensing entity or health care practitioner regulated under:                (1)  Chapter 204;                (2)  Subchapter B, Chapter 256;                (3)  Subtitle E; or                (4)  Chapter 351.          Sec. 117.003.  REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY LICENSE FOR   CHARITABLE PURPOSE. (a) Each licensing entity under this chapter   shall adopt rules providing for the issuance of temporary licenses   that authorize the license holders to provide voluntary charity   health care services. The term of the license may not exceed seven   days.           (b)  If an applicant for a temporary license under this   chapter has an unacceptable licensing or criminal history, the   licensing entity may not issue a temporary license to the applicant   and the applicant may not provide voluntary charity health care   services.          (c)  Each licensing entity by rule shall provide for adequate   supervision of each health care practitioner issued a temporary   license under this chapter by a health care practitioner licensed   under the laws of this state in the applicable profession.           (d)  A health care practitioner issued a temporary license   under this chapter shall:                (1)  limit the health care practitioner's practice to   only voluntary charity health care services within the scope of   practice of the applicable license;                (2)  practice only in a geographic area specified by   the license; and                (3)  practice only for the period specified by the   license.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Medical Board, the State Board of   Dental Examiners, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas   Optometry Board shall actively seek and apply for any available   federal financial assistance to support development and   implementation of temporary short-term licensing programs under   this chapter, including grants made available to states under the   Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (15 U.S.C.   Section 9001 et seq.) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021   (Pub. L. No. 116-260), and any other federal legislation to support   the provision of health care services in underserved areas during a   state of disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code,   related to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.