By: Nelson S.B. No. 191
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to disposition of a contested case by the Texas Medical
  Board.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (a) and (a-1), Section 164.007,
  Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The board by rule shall adopt procedures governing
  formal disposition of a contested case under Chapter 2001,
  Government Code. A formal hearing shall be conducted by an
  administrative law judge employed by the State Office of
  Administrative Hearings. After receiving the administrative law
  judge's findings of fact and conclusions of law, the board shall
  dispose of the contested case by issuing a final order based on the
  administrative law judge's findings of fact and conclusions of law
  [determine the charges on the merits].
         (a-1)  Notwithstanding Section 2001.058(e), Government
  Code, the [The] board may not change a finding of fact or conclusion
  of law or vacate or modify an order of the administrative law judge.
  The board may obtain judicial review of any finding of fact or
  conclusion of law issued by the administrative law judge as
  provided by Section 2001.058(f)(5), Government Code. For each
  case, the board has the sole authority and discretion to determine
  the appropriate action or sanction, and the administrative law
  judge may not make any recommendation regarding the appropriate
  action or sanction [only if the board makes a determination
  required by Section 2001.058(e), Government Code].
         SECTION 2.  Subsections (a) and (a-1), Section 164.007,
  Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a contested
  case for which an administrative law judge employed by the State
  Office of Administrative Hearings issues written findings of fact
  and conclusions of law on or after the effective date of this Act.  A
  contested case for which an administrative law judge employed by
  the State Office of Administrative Hearings issues written findings
  of fact and conclusions of law before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect on the date the findings of fact and
  conclusions of law were issued, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.