HBA-MPM S.B. 692 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 692
By: Lindsay
Public Health
4/24/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners
(board) to develop by  rule a process to evaluate and approve continuing
education courses for occupational therapists.  The outsourcing of this
process may enhance the quality of the continuing education courses and
reduce the demands on board support staff.  Senate Bill 692 authorizes the
board to permit license holder peer organizations to evaluate and approve
continuing education courses according to the board's established process. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy
Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 454.254, Occupations Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 692 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the Texas Board of
Occupational Therapy Examiners (board) in adopting rules to develop a
process to evaluate and approve continuing education courses for
occupational therapists, to authorize license holder peer organizations in
Texas to evaluate and approve continuing education courses in accordance
with the board's evaluation and approval process. The bill prohibits the
board from adopting rules after January 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.