HB 1838
AN ACT relating to the verification of health care practitioner continuing
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Requires Texas licensing entities for health care practitioners to establish an electronic continuing education tracking system to verify compliance with ongoing education requirements for license renewal. The system will collect basic practitioner license information and track continuing education course completion, ensuring that health care professionals meet mandatory training standards before renewing their professional licenses. By September 1, 2026, all relevant licensing entities must implement this digital tracking system, which must be secure, cloud-certified, and compliant with accessibility standards.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the verification of health care practitioner continuing education compliance through the establishment of continuing BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 112.002, Occupations Code, is transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 112, Occupations Code, redesignated as Section 112.0501, Occupations Code, and amended to Sec. 112.0501 [112.002]. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter [chapter] applies only to licensing entities and health care practitioners under Chapters 401, 453, and 454 and Subtitles B, C, SECTION 2. Chapter 112, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER C. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS Sec. 112.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Continuing education course" means a course, clinic, forum, lecture, program, or seminar that an individual must complete in order to maintain or renew a license. (2) "Continuing education provider" means a person that a licensing entity authorizes or approves to offer continuing (3) "Continuing education tracking system" means an electronic system a licensing entity establishes as required by (4) "License" means a form of authorization a licensing entity issues, including a license, certificate, registration, or permit, that an individual must obtain to engage in a particular business, occupation, or profession. Sec. 112.102. APPLICABILITY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this subchapter applies only to a licensing entity that issues a license to a health care practitioner under this (b) This subchapter does not apply to Subtitle L. Sec. 112.103. CONTINUING EDUCATION COMPLIANCE REQUIRED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a licensing entity may not renew a health care practitioner's license unless the licensing entity verifies that the health care practitioner has complied with any continuing education requirements of the (b) Verification of a health care practitioner's compliance with continuing education requirements that the continuing education tracking system generates: (1) satisfies the requirement of Subsection (a); and (2) must be used in the conduct of any audit of health care practitioners the licensing entity conducts. (c) This section does not prohibit a licensing entity from imposing penalties under applicable statutes or rules for a health care practitioner's failure to comply with continuing education Sec. 112.104. CONTINUING EDUCATION TRACKING SYSTEM. (a) Each licensing entity by rule shall establish a continuing education tracking system for use by and accessible to health care practitioners, licensing entity staff, and continuing education (b) A continuing education tracking system established under this subchapter may not require any licensing entity Sec. 112.105. DATA AND SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS. (a) A continuing education tracking system may collect and use only: (1) information that directly relates to a health care practitioner's compliance with continuing education requirements, (A) the name in which the health care practitioner's license is issued; (B) the health care practitioner's license (D) the license expiration date; and (E) any other information disclosed to the public in response to a license verification request; and (2) other information the licensing entity designates by rule as necessary for the system's performance of a function (b) A continuing education tracking system established (1) if the continuing education tracking system is a cloud-based system, be certified under the state risk and authorization management program established under Section 2054.0593, Government Code; and (2) comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.). Sec. 112.106. RULEMAKING. A licensing entity shall adopt rules necessary to implement this subchapter. SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2026, each licensing entity shall establish a continuing education tracking system as required by Section 112.104, Occupations Code, as added by this SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 112.104(b), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, a licensing entity subject to that section that on the effective date of this Act has an agreement in place with a continuing education tracking system provider that is able to implement the requirements of Subchapter C, Chapter 112, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, may maintain that agreement and any costs associated with implementation of the agreement. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the verification of health care practitioner continuing
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