HBA-NRS S.B. 651 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 651
By: Carona
Public Health
4/3/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (board) must
administer the required examination by the National Board of Chiropractic
Examiners in writing. Senate Bill 651 allows the board to administer the
examination by other means and modifies current examination procedures and
required examination results.  

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

Senate Bill 651 amends the Occupations Code to remove a written clinical
competency examination and a practical examination given by the Texas Board
of Chiropractic Examiners (board) from the set of exams required to receive
a license to practice chiropractic. The bill removes the stipulation  that
an applicant must pass a written examination prepared by the board that
tests the applicant's knowledge and understanding of laws relating to
chiropractic. The applicant must also pass the required and optional parts
of the examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners,
as required by and under conditions established by board rule.   

The bill removes the provision requiring each applicant examined at the
same time to be given identical questions. The bill removes the requirement
that an examination be validated through an independent testing entity. The
bill removes the provision that if an examination is graded or reviewed by
a national testing service the board is required to notify an applicant of
the applicant's results on the examination within 14 days after the board
receives the examination from the testing service. For an applicant that
fails an examination given by the board, the bill requires the board to
review with the applicant circumstances surrounding the adverse score,
rather than to provide an analysis of the applicant's performance on the
examination. The bill provides that an applicant must score a grade of at
least 75 percent on the examination rather than at least 75 percent in each
subject on the exam.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.