bill requiring adoption law training for physicians

The text as introduced · 515 words

89R17105 DNC-F

By: Cunningham
H.B. No. 5114

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to continuing medical education requirements for certain

physicians regarding adoption.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 156.061 to read as follows:

Sec. 156.061. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION REGARDING TEXAS

ADOPTION LAW. (a) A physician licensed under this subtitle who

submits an application for renewal of a registration permit and

whose practice includes treating pregnant women must complete not

less than two hours of continuing medical education related to

Texas adoption law.

(b) Continuing medical education under this section must

include education regarding:

(1) procedures for the termination of the parental

rights of an alleged biological father for the purpose of adoption

under Section 161.002, Family Code;

(2) procedures for the voluntary termination of

parental rights before and after birth under Sections 161.102 and

161.103, Family Code;

(3) procedures for a mother to authorize the release

of her newborn child from a hospital or birthing center to a

licensed child placing agency, the Department of Family and

Protective Services, or another designated person under Section

161.108, Family Code;

(4) terms regarding limited post-termination contact

that may be included in an order terminating the parent-child

relationship under Section 161.2061, Family Code;

(5) provisions for a designated emergency infant care

provider to take possession of an abandoned child under Section

262.302, Family Code;

(6) financial assistance that a child-placing agency

may pay to an expectant mother as described by Section 25.08(b)(4),

Penal Code; and

(7) differences between private adoption and foster

care adoption, including:

(A) the processes and legal requirements for

private adoption and foster care adoption;

(B) the role of private adoption agencies and the

Department of Family and Protective Services with respect to

facilitating adoption;

(C) support services available to expectant

mothers and adoptive families through private adoption and foster

care adoption; and

(D) the rights and responsibilities of birth

parents, adoptive parents, and this state in private adoption and

foster care adoption.

(c) A physician must complete the hours required by

Subsection (a) in each of the first two renewal periods following

the issuance of the physician's initial registration permit under

this chapter, with at least one hour to be completed not later than

the first anniversary of the date of issuance.

(d) After the period described by Subsection (c), a

physician must complete not less than two hours of continuing

medical education described by Subsection (b) every eight years.

(e) The hours required by this section may be counted toward

the hours of continuing medical education completed to comply with

Section 156.051(a)(2).

(f) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section,

including rules establishing content and approval requirements to

ensure the continuing medical education described by this section

aligns with current medical standards and guidelines.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas

Medical Board shall adopt the rules necessary to implement the

changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.