HBA-NRS H.B. 248 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 248
By: Pitts
Civil Practices
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides for limited liability for certain health care
providers who voluntarily provide health care services without compensation
or expectation of compensation. However, limited liability for voluntary
health care services does not include licensed or retired chiropractors.
Licensed or retired chiropractors were left out of these provisions and, as
a result, voluntary health care services provided by licensed or retired
chiropractors have been reduced because there is no statutory protection
for such services. House Bill 248 includes in the definition of  "volunteer
health care provider" a licensed or retired chiropractor thereby providing
such chiropractors with limited liability. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 248 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to include in
the definition of "volunteer health care provider" a licensed chiropractor
or a retired chiropractor who is eligible to provide health care services
under the law of this state for the purpose of limiting the liability of
such an individual under the Charitable Immunity and Liability Act of 1987.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.