S.B. No. 141
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the requirements for issuance of a license to practice
  orthotics and prosthetics.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (b) and (c), Section 605.252,
  Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The requirements for a license established by board rule
  must include the requirement that the applicant hold:
               (1)  a bachelor's or graduate degree in orthotics and
  prosthetics from:
                     (A)  an education program recognized and
  accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
  Education Programs that is offered at an institution of higher
  education; or
                     (B)  a practitioner education program that has
  education standards that are equivalent to or exceed the standards
  adopted by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
  Education Programs; or
               (2)  a bachelor's degree in another subject and an
  orthotic or prosthetic certificate issued by a practitioner
  education program:
                     (A)  recognized and accredited by the Commission
  on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or
                     (B)  that has education standards that are
  equivalent to or exceed the standards adopted by the Commission on
  Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
         (c)  To meet the clinical residency requirements for a
  license, the applicant must complete a [at least 1,900 hours of]
  professional clinical residency that meets the requirements
  established by board rule and is conducted under the direct
  supervision of a licensed orthotist, licensed prosthetist, or a
  licensed prosthetist orthotist in the discipline for which
  licensure is sought.  The clinical residency requirements adopted
  by the board must be equivalent to or exceed the standards set by
  the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 605.258, Occupations
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The board may issue a student registration certificate
  to an individual who is working toward fulfilling the requirements
  for a license as an orthotist, prosthetist, or prosthetist
  orthotist and:
               (1)  holds either:
                     (A)  [(1)]  a bachelor's or graduate degree in
  orthotics and prosthetics from:
                           (i)  [(A)]  an education program recognized
  and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
  Education Programs that is offered at an institution of higher
  education; or
                           (ii)  [(B)]  a practitioner education
  program that has education standards that are equivalent to or
  exceed the standards adopted by the Commission on Accreditation of
  Allied Health Education Programs; or
                     (B)  [(2)]  a bachelor's degree in another
  subject and an orthotic or prosthetic certificate issued by a
  practitioner education program:
                           (i)  [(A)]  recognized and accredited by the
  Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or
                           (ii)  [(B)]  that has education standards
  that are equivalent to or exceed the standards adopted by the
  Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or
               (2)  is a student who:
                     (A)  is currently enrolled in a graduate program
  in this state in orthotics and prosthetics that:
                           (i)  is recognized and accredited by the
  Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;
  and
                           (ii)  incorporates a professional clinical
  residency that meets the requirements of rules adopted under
  Section 605.252(c); and
                     (B)  submits to the board a written certification
  from the graduate program in which the student is enrolled that the
  student has successfully completed the academic prerequisites to
  enter a professional clinical residency.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter
  605, Occupations Code, apply only to an application for a license or
  student registration certificate submitted to the Texas Board of
  Orthotics and Prosthetics on or after January 1, 2014.  An
  application submitted before January 1, 2014, is governed by the
  law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  The Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics
  shall adopt rules to implement the changes in law made by this Act
  not later than December 1, 2013.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 141 passed the Senate on
  March 13, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 141 passed the House on
  May 22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor