S.B.�No.�776
AN ACT
relating to certain educational requirements applicable to the
regulation of the practice of chiropractic.
�������BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
�������SECTION�1.��Subsection (a), Section 201.052, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
�������(a)��A person is not eligible to serve as a member of the
board if the person:
�������������(1)��is a member of the faculty or board of trustees of
a chiropractic school or a doctor of chiropractic degree program;
�������������(2)��is a stockholder in a chiropractic school or
college; or
�������������(3)��has a financial interest in a chiropractic school
or college.
�������SECTION�2.��Subsection (a), Section 201.159, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
�������(a)��The board shall preserve a record of its proceedings in
a register that contains:
�������������(1)��the name, age, place, and duration of residence of
each applicant for a license;
�������������(2)��the amount of time spent by the applicant in the
study of chiropractic in respective doctor of chiropractic degree
programs [schools]; and
�������������(3)��other information the board desires to record.
�������SECTION�3.��Subsections (a) and (d), Section 201.302,
Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:
�������(a)��An applicant for a license by examination must present
satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant:
�������������(1)��is at least 18 years of age;
�������������(2)��is of good moral character;
�������������(3)��has completed 90 semester hours of college courses
[at a school] other than courses included in a doctor of
chiropractic degree program [school]; and
�������������(4)��is either a graduate or a final semester student of
a bona fide reputable doctor of chiropractic degree program
[school].
�������(d)��Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3), if the Council on
Chiropractic Education or another national chiropractic education
accreditation organization recognized by the board requires a
number of semester hours of college courses [at a school] other than
courses included in a doctor of chiropractic degree program
[school] that is greater or less than the number of hours specified
by that subsection to qualify for admission to a doctor of
chiropractic degree program [school], the board may adopt the
requirement of that organization if the board determines that
requirement to be appropriate.
�������SECTION�4.��Subsection (d), Section 201.303, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
�������(d)��A bona fide reputable doctor of chiropractic degree
program [school] that satisfies Section 201.302(a)(4) is one that:
�������������(1)��has entrance requirements and a course of
instruction as high as those of a better class of doctor of
chiropractic degree programs [schools] in the United States;
�������������(2)��maintains a resident course of instruction
equivalent to:
�������������������(A)��not less than four terms of eight months
each; or
�������������������(B)��not less than the number of semester hours
required by The University of Texas for a bachelor of arts or
bachelor of science degree;
�������������(3)��provides a course of instruction in the
fundamental subjects listed in Section 201.305(b); and
�������������(4)��has the necessary teaching staff and facilities
for proper instruction in all of the fundamental subjects listed in
Section 201.305(b).
�������SECTION�5.��Section 201.309, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
�������Sec.�201.309.��LICENSE ISSUANCE TO CERTAIN OUT-OF-STATE
APPLICANTS.��The board shall issue a license to practice
chiropractic to an out-of-state applicant who:
�������������(1)��submits a written application to the board on a
form prescribed by the board, accompanied by the application fee
set by the board and any other information requested by the board;
�������������(2)��is licensed in good standing to practice
chiropractic in another state or foreign country that has licensing
requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of this
chapter;
�������������(3)��has not been the subject of a disciplinary action
and is not the subject of a pending investigation in any
jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been licensed;
�������������(4)��has graduated from a doctor of chiropractic degree
program [school] accredited by the Council on Chiropractic
Education and approved by rule by the board;
�������������(5)��has passed a national or other examination
recognized by the board relating to the practice of chiropractic;
�������������(6)��has passed the board's jurisprudence examination;
�������������(7)��has practiced chiropractic:
�������������������(A)��for at least the three years immediately
preceding the date of the application under this section; or
�������������������(B)��as a chiropractic educator in [at] a doctor
of chiropractic degree program [school] accredited by the Council
on Chiropractic Education for at least the three years immediately
preceding the date of the application under this section; and
�������������(8)��meets any other requirements adopted by rule by
the board under this chapter.
�������SECTION�6.��The change in law made by this Act applies to an
applicant who files an application for a license under Chapter 201,
Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. An
applicant who files an application before that date is governed by
the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
�������SECTION�7.��This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.��If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
______________________________ ______________________________
���President of the Senate Speaker of the House�����
�������I hereby certify that S.B.�No.�776 passed the Senate on
April�19,�2007, by the following vote: Yeas�30, Nays�0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May�26,�2007, by the
following vote: Yeas�30, Nays�0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate����
�������I hereby certify that S.B.�No.�776 passed the House, with
amendment, on May�23,�2007, by the following vote: Yeas�144,
Nays�0, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House���
Approved:
______________________________�
������������Date
______________________________�
����������Governor