S.B. No. 978
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to regulation by the Texas Medical Board of local
  anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks administered in an
  outpatient setting.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 162.103, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 162.103.  APPLICABILITY. Rules adopted by the board
  under this subchapter do not apply to:
               (1)  an outpatient setting in which only local
  anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used in a total
  dosage amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the recommended
  maximum safe dosage per outpatient visit;
               (2)  a licensed hospital, including an outpatient
  facility of the hospital that is located separate from the
  hospital;
               (3)  a licensed ambulatory surgical center;
               (4)  a clinic located on land recognized as tribal land
  by the federal government and maintained or operated by a federally
  recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization as listed by the
  United States secretary of the interior under 25 U.S.C. Section
  479a-1 or as listed under a successor federal statute or
  regulation;
               (5)  a facility maintained or operated by a state or
  local governmental entity;
               (6)  a clinic directly maintained or operated by the
  United States; or
               (7)  an outpatient setting accredited by:
                     (A)  The [the] Joint Commission [on Accreditation
  of Healthcare Organizations] relating to ambulatory surgical
  centers;
                     (B)  the American Association for [the]
  Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities; or
                     (C)  the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory
  Health Care.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
  162.103, Occupations Code, and rules adopted by the Texas Medical
  Board under Subchapter C, Chapter 162, Occupations Code, apply only
  to an outpatient setting in which only local anesthesia, peripheral
  nerve blocks, or both are used on or after the effective date of
  this Act.  An outpatient setting in which only local anesthesia,
  peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the local
  anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, or both are used, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 978 passed the Senate on
  April 18, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 978 passed the House on
  May 20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 116, Nays 31, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor