2011 Texas Statutes
OCCUPATIONS CODE
TITLE 3 - HEALTH PROFESSIONS
SUBTITLE K - PROFESSIONS RELATED TO USE OF CERTAIN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 602 - MEDICAL PHYSICISTS
OCCUPATIONS CODE
TITLE 3. HEALTH PROFESSIONS
SUBTITLE K. PROFESSIONS RELATED TO USE OF CERTAIN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 602. MEDICAL PHYSICISTS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 602.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Medical Physics Practice Act.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists in the Texas Department of Health.
(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health.
(3) "Diagnostic radiological physics" means the branch of medical physics that deals with:
(A) the diagnostic application of:
(i) roentgen rays;
(ii) gamma rays from sealed sources;
(iii) ultrasonic radiation; or
(iv) radiofrequency radiation; and
(B) the use of equipment associated with the production and use of those types of radiation.
(4) "License" means a certificate issued by the board that authorizes the holder to engage in the practice of medical physics.
(5) "Licensed medical physicist" means a person who holds a license.
(6) "Medical health physics" means the branch of medical physics that deals with the safe use of roentgen rays, gamma rays, electron or other charged particle beams, neutrons, radionuclides, and radiation from sealed radionuclide sources for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in humans and the use of equipment required to perform appropriate radiation tests and measurements.
(7) "Medical nuclear physics" means the branch of medical physics that deals with:
(A) the therapeutic and diagnostic application of radionuclides, except those used in sealed sources for therapeutic purposes; and
(B) the use of equipment associated with the production and use of radionuclides.
(8) "Medical physics" means the branch of physics that is associated with the practice of medicine, including the field of radiological physics.
(9) "Practice of medical radiological physics" means the use of principles and accepted protocols of physics to assure the correct quality, quantity, and placement of radiation during the performance of a radiological procedure prescribed by a practitioner that will protect the patient and others from harmful excessive radiation. The term includes:
(A) radiation beam calibration and characterization;
(B) quality assurance;
(C) instrument specification;
(D) acceptance testing;
(E) shielding design;
(F) protection analysis on radiation-emitting equipment and radiopharmaceuticals; and
(G) consultation with a physician to assure accurate radiation dosage to a specific patient.
(10) "Practitioner" means a person who:
(A) is licensed in this state as a doctor of:
(i) medicine;
(ii) osteopathy;
(iii) podiatry;
(iv) dentistry; or
(v) chiropractic; and
(B) prescribes radiologic procedures for other persons.
(11) "Radiation" means ionizing or nonionizing radiation above background levels used to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic medical or dental radiological procedure.
(12) "Radiological physics" means the branch of medical physics that includes:
(A) diagnostic radiological physics;
(B) medical health physics;
(C) medical nuclear physics; and
(D) therapeutic radiological physics.
(13) "Radiological procedure" means a test, measurement, calculation, or radiation exposure that:
(A) is used to diagnose or treat a disease or another human medical or dental condition; and
(B) includes the use of:
(i) diagnostic radiation;
(ii) nuclear magnetic resonance;
(iii) nuclear medicine procedures; or
(iv) therapeutic radiation.
(14) "Therapeutic radiological physics" means the branch of medical physics that deals with:
(A) the therapeutic application of:
(i) roentgen rays;
(ii) gamma rays;
(iii) electron and other charged particle beams;
(iv) neutrons; or
(v) radiation from a radionuclide source; and
(B) the use of equipment associated with the production and use of those types of radiation.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS BOARD OF LICENSURE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PHYSICISTS
Sec. 602.051. BOARD. The Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists is the division of the department responsible for regulating the practice of medical physics.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.052. APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS. (a) The board consists of nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate as follows:
(1) five licensed medical physicists, with at least one board certified representative of each of the following specialties:
(A) diagnostic radiological physics;
(B) medical health physics;
(C) medical nuclear physics; and
(D) therapeutic radiological physics;
(2) three physicians, with a board certified representative of each of the following specialties:
(A) diagnostic radiology;
(B) nuclear medicine; and
(C) radiation therapy; and
(3) one member who represents the public.
(b) The governor shall appoint the board's medical physicist members from lists of candidates who have practiced medical physics for the period prescribed by Section 602.053(b) submitted by specialty from the following groups on the governor's request:
(1) the Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine;
(2) Region VIII of the American College of Medical Physics;
(3) the South Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society;
(4) the Southwestern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine; and
(5) the Texas Radiological Society.
(c) The governor shall appoint the board's physician members from lists of candidates who have practiced medicine in the designated specialties for the period prescribed by Section 602.053(c) submitted by specialty from the following groups on the governor's request:
(1) the Southwestern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine; and
(2) the Texas Radiological Society.
(d) Appointments to the board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, creed, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.326(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.053. BOARD MEMBERSHIP; ELIGIBILITY. (a) A board member must be a United States citizen.
(b) A medical physicist board member must be a resident of the state for a period of not less than four years before appointment and must have practiced medical physics for not less than six years preceding appointment.
(c) A physician board member must be licensed to practice medicine in the state and must have practiced a specialty listed by Section 602.052(a)(2) for not less than four years preceding appointment. The appropriate specialty boards for nuclear medicine are the American Board of Nuclear Medicine and the American Board of Radiology.
(d) A public board member must be a resident of the state for a period of not less than four years preceding appointment. A person may not be a public member of the board if the person or the person's spouse:
(1) is registered, certified, or licensed by a regulatory agency in the field of medical physics;
(2) is employed by or participates in the management of a business entity or other organization regulated by or receiving money from the board;
(3) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other organization regulated by or receiving money from the board; or
(4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible goods, services, or money from the board other than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for board membership, attendance, or expenses.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.327(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.054. MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS. (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined association of business or professional competitors in this state designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with mutual business or professional problems and in promoting their common interest.
(b) A person may not be a member of the board if:
(1) the person is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of medicine; or
(2) the person's spouse is an officer, manager, or paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of medicine.
(c) A person may not serve as a member of the board if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the board.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.328(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.055. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Members of the board serve staggered six-year terms. The terms of three members expire on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) A person is not eligible to serve more than one consecutive six-year term. A person may serve consecutively one six-year term and a shorter term that arises because of filling an unexpired vacancy.
(c) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.056. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL. (a) It is a ground for removal from the board that a member:
(1) does not have at the time of appointment the qualifications required by Section 602.053 for appointment to the board;
(2) does not maintain during service on the board the qualifications required by Section 602.053 for appointment to the board;
(3) is ineligible for membership under Section 602.053(d) or Section 602.054;
(4) cannot, because of illness or disability, discharge the member's duties for a substantial part of the member's term; or
(5) does not attend at least half of the regularly scheduled board meetings held in a calendar year, excluding meetings held while the person was not a board member, without an excuse approved by the board.
(b) A board action taken while a ground for removal of a member of the board exists is not invalid for that reason.
(c) If the commissioner of public health has knowledge that a potential ground for removal exists, the commissioner shall notify the presiding officer of the board of the potential ground. The presiding officer shall then notify the governor and the attorney general that a potential ground for removal exists. If the potential ground for removal involves the presiding officer, the commissioner shall notify the next highest ranking officer of the board, who shall then notify the governor and the attorney general that a potential ground for removal exists.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.329(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.057. COMPENSATION. A member of the board is entitled to a per diem in an amount set by the legislature for each day that the member engages in the business of the board.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.058. BOARD OFFICERS; MEETINGS. (a) The governor shall designate a member of the board as the presiding officer of the board to serve in that capacity at the will of the governor. At the first regularly scheduled meeting of each calendar year, the board shall elect from its members an assistant presiding officer.
(b) The board shall hold a meeting at least once a year and at other times in accordance with board rule.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.330(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.059. TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the board may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the board until the person completes a training program that complies with this section.
(b) The training program must provide the person with information regarding:
(1) the legislation that created the board;
(2) the programs operated by the board;
(3) the role and functions of the board;
(4) the rules of the board, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;
(5) the current budget for the board;
(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the board;
(7) the requirements of:
(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government Code;
(B) the public information law, Chapter 552, Government Code;
(C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001, Government Code; and
(D) other laws relating to public officials, including conflict of interest laws; and
(8) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the board or the Texas Ethics Commission.
(c) A person appointed to the board is entitled to reimbursement, as provided by the General Appropriations Act, for the travel expenses incurred in attending the training program regardless of whether the attendance at the program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.328(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND PERSONNEL
Sec. 602.101. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. The commissioner of health, after consulting with the board, shall designate an employee of the department to serve as the board's executive secretary.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.102. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The executive secretary shall:
(1) administer the board's licensing activities;
(2) keep full and accurate minutes of the board's transactions and procedures;
(3) act as custodian of the board's records;
(4) prepare and recommend to the board plans and procedures necessary to implement this chapter, including rules and proposals on administrative procedures consistent with this chapter;
(5) exercise general supervision over persons employed by the department in the administration of this chapter;
(6) be responsible for complaint investigations and for presentation of formal complaints;
(7) attend all board meetings;
(8) manage the board's correspondence;
(9) make or arrange for necessary inspections and investigations;
(10) obtain or prepare reports and information as directed or authorized by the board; and
(11) perform other duties prescribed by this chapter and the department.
(b) The executive secretary is not entitled to vote at board meetings.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.103. PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES. (a) The department shall provide the basic personnel and facilities required to administer this chapter. The department personnel administering this chapter act as agents of the board.
(b) The department by agreement may secure services the department considers necessary and may provide for compensation for those services.
(c) Within available appropriations, the department may employ and compensate, on a full-time or part-time basis, the professional consultants, technical assistants, and employees necessary to administer this chapter.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.104. DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. The board shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board and the management responsibilities of the commissioner of public health, the executive secretary, and the staff of the department.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.331(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.105. QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT INFORMATION. The commissioner of public health or the commissioner's designee shall provide to members of the board, as often as necessary, information regarding the requirements for office under this chapter, including information regarding a person's responsibilities under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state officers.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.333(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
SUBCHAPTER D. BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 602.151. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The board shall:
(1) adopt and revise, with the department's approval, rules reasonably necessary to properly perform its duties under this chapter;
(2) adopt an official seal;
(3) determine the qualifications and fitness of each applicant for a license or license renewal;
(4) charge a fee, in an amount necessary to cover the costs incurred by the board in administering this chapter, for processing and issuing or renewing a license;
(5) conduct examinations for licensure;
(6) issue, deny, renew, revoke, and suspend licenses;
(7) adopt and publish a code of ethics; and
(8) conduct hearings on complaints concerning violations of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.152. CONSUMER INTEREST INFORMATION; COMPLAINTS. (a) The board shall prepare information of consumer interest describing the regulatory functions of the board and the procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the board.
(b) The board shall maintain a file on each written complaint filed with the board. The file must include:
(1) the name of the person who filed the complaint;
(2) the date the complaint is received by the board;
(3) the subject matter of the complaint;
(4) the name of each person contacted in relation to the complaint;
(5) a summary of the results of the review or investigation of the complaint; and
(6) an explanation of the reason the file was closed, if the board closed the file without taking action other than to investigate the complaint.
(c) The board shall provide to the person filing the complaint and to each person who is a subject of the complaint a copy of the board's policies and procedures relating to complaint investigation and resolution.
(d) The board, at least quarterly until final disposition of the complaint, shall notify the person filing the complaint and each person who is a subject of the complaint of the status of the complaint unless the notice would jeopardize an undercover investigation.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.332(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.1521. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. The board shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the board and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the board.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.330(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.1525. SUBPOENAS. (a) In an investigation of a complaint filed with the board, the board may request that the commissioner of public health or the commissioner's designee approve the issuance of a subpoena. If the request is approved, the board may issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of a relevant witness or the production, for inspection or copying, of relevant evidence that is in this state.
(b) A subpoena may be served personally or by certified mail.
(c) If a person fails to comply with a subpoena, the board, acting through the attorney general, may file suit to enforce the subpoena in a district court in Travis County or in the county in which a hearing conducted by the board may be held.
(d) On finding that good cause exists for issuing the subpoena, the court shall order the person to comply with the subpoena. The court may punish a person who fails to obey the court order.
(e) The board may delegate the authority granted under Subsection (a) to the executive secretary of the board.
(f) The board shall pay a reasonable fee for photocopies subpoenaed under this section in an amount not to exceed the amount the board may charge for copies of its records.
(g) The reimbursement of the expenses of a witness whose attendance is compelled under this section is governed by Section 2001.103, Government Code.
(h) All information and materials subpoenaed or compiled by the board in connection with a complaint and investigation are confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, and not subject to disclosure, discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for their release to anyone other than the board or its agents or employees who are involved in discipline of the holder of a license, except that this information may be disclosed to:
(1) persons involved with the board in a disciplinary action against the holder of a license;
(2) professional medical physics licensing or disciplinary boards in other jurisdictions;
(3) peer assistance programs approved by the board under Chapter 467, Health and Safety Code;
(4) law enforcement agencies; and
(5) persons engaged in bona fide research, if all individual-identifying information has been deleted.
(i) The filing of formal charges by the board against a holder of a license, the nature of those charges, disciplinary proceedings of the board, and final disciplinary actions, including warnings and reprimands, by the board are not confidential and are subject to disclosure in accordance with Chapter 552, Government Code.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.332(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.153. CONTINUING EDUCATION. The board shall recognize, prepare, or administer continuing education programs for persons licensed by the board. A license holder must participate in the programs to the extent required by the board to keep the person's license.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.331(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.154. RULES RELATING TO ADVERTISING OR COMPETITIVE BIDDING. (a) The board may not adopt rules restricting advertising or competitive bidding by a license holder except to prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive practices.
(b) In its rules to prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive practices, the board may not include a rule that:
(1) restricts the use of any medium for advertising;
(2) restricts the use of a license holder's personal appearance or voice in an advertisement;
(3) relates to the size or duration of an advertisement by the license holder; or
(4) restricts the license holder's advertisement under a trade name.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.332(c), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
SUBCHAPTER E. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 602.201. LICENSE REQUIRED; SPECIALTY LICENSE. (a) A person may not practice medical physics without a license.
(b) A medical physicist may not practice the following specialties unless the person holds a license for that specialty:
(1) diagnostic radiological physics;
(2) medical health physics;
(3) medical nuclear physics; or
(4) therapeutic radiological physics.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.202. EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSE REQUIREMENT. This chapter does not apply to:
(1) a practitioner engaged in the performance of radiological procedures;
(2) a person certified as a medical radiological technologist practicing under Chapter 601;
(3) a person who performs radiological procedures under a practitioner's instruction or supervision;
(4) a person performing beam calibration and characterization, quality assurance, instrument specification, acceptance testing, shielding design, or protection analysis on radiation-emitting equipment or radiopharmaceuticals for procedures not involved with the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or another human medical or dental condition; or
(5) a person who is:
(A) employed by a state or federal regulatory agency; and
(B) performing duties in the scope of the person's employment.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.203. LICENSE APPLICATION. (a) A person may apply for a license by filing an application with the board.
(b) An application must be on a form prescribed by the board and must include:
(1) evidence of relevant work experience, including a description of the duties performed;
(2) an official transcript from the college or university granting the applicant's degree;
(3) a statement of the medical physics specialty for which the application is submitted;
(4) three professional references; and
(5) any additional information required by board rule.
(c) The applicant must submit with the application the fee prescribed by the board.
(d) The board or the executive secretary may require an applicant to appear before the board or secretary to present additional information in support of the application.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.204. BOARD CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATION. (a) The presiding officer of the board shall review each completed license application received by the board and shall prepare and circulate among board members a summary of the application and a recommendation for board action.
(b) The board may reject, approve, or withdraw, or suspend consideration of, the application until the board receives the results of an examination taken under Section 602.206.
(c) A license applicant may, before the board issues or renews a license, request in writing that the board withdraw its consideration of the application. The board shall retain the applicant's application and fee. To reapply, the applicant must submit a new application and fee.
(d) The board by rule shall establish procedures and requirements for an appeal to review the board's decision on a license application.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.205. TEMPORARY LICENSE. The board may issue a temporary license to an applicant who has satisfied the educational requirements for a license but who has not yet completed the experience and examination requirements of Section 602.207.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.206. EXAMINATION. (a) The board shall administer a written examination for a license to qualified applicants at least two times each year.
(b) Each applicant shall take the examination for the medical physics specialty requested by the applicant in the license application.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.207. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATION. (a) To be eligible to take an examination for a license, an applicant must:
(1) have a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university that signifies the completion of courses approved by the board in physics, medical physics, biophysics, radiological physics, medical health physics, or equivalent courses;
(2) have demonstrated, to the board's satisfaction, completion of at least two years of full-time work experience in the five years preceding the date of application in the medical physics specialty for which application is made; and
(3) submit a completed application as required by Section 602.203.
(b) Work experience in more than one specialty must include six additional months for each additional specialty.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.208. EXAMINATION RESULTS; REEXAMINATION. (a) The board shall notify each examinee of the results of the examination not later than the 30th day after the date the examination is administered. If an examination is graded or reviewed by a national or state testing service, the board shall notify each examinee of the results of the examination not later than the 14th day after the date the board receives the results from the testing service.
(b) If the board learns that the notice of the examination results will be delayed for more than 90 days after the examination date, the board shall notify each examinee of the reason for the delay not later than the 90th day.
(c) If requested by a person who fails the examination, the board shall provide to the person an analysis of the person's performance on the examination.
(d) The board by rule shall establish procedures and requirements for reexamination of an applicant who fails the examination.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.209. LICENSE ISSUANCE. (a) The board may issue a license to an eligible applicant who:
(1) passes the examination under Section 602.206; and
(2) meets all other license requirements.
(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date the board makes a decision on an application submitted under Section 602.203, the board shall notify the applicant of the decision.
(c) If the board approves the application, the board shall issue a license to the applicant. If the board denies the application, the board shall include in the notice of decision a description of the areas of deficiency.
(d) Each license issued under this chapter must be uniform, except that each license must indicate:
(1) the license holder's name;
(2) the serial number assigned to the license holder; and
(3) the medical physics specialty the license holder may practice.
(e) A license certificate is the board's property and must be surrendered on demand.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.210. LICENSE TERM AND RENEWAL. (a) A license is valid for one year from the date granted and may be renewed annually.
(b) The board by rule may adopt a system under which licenses expire on various dates during the year.
(c) A person may renew an unexpired license by paying the required renewal fee to the board before the expiration date of the license.
(d) If a person's license has been expired for 90 days or less, the person may renew the license by paying to the board the required renewal fee and a penalty fee in an amount equal to one-half of the amount of the renewal fee.
(e) If a person's license has been expired for longer than 90 days but less than two years, the person may renew the license by paying to the board the renewal fee that was due at expiration and a penalty fee in an amount equal to the amount of the renewal fee.
(f) If a person's license has been expired for two years or longer, the person may not renew the license. To obtain a new license, a person must comply with the application requirements of this chapter and must submit to the board:
(1) a supplemental experience record as required by the board;
(2) a description of professional activities undertaken during the expiration period;
(3) a list of current professional references; and
(4) a transcript for any degree or college credit earned since the person's previous license application.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.211. LICENSE BY ENDORSEMENT OR RECIPROCITY. (a) On receipt of an application and fee under Section 602.203, the board may waive any prerequisite for obtaining a license to a person who holds a license to practice medical or radiological physics in another state, territory, or jurisdiction acceptable to the board that has requirements for the licensing of medical or radiological physicists that are substantially the same as the requirements of this chapter.
(b) The board may waive any prerequisite for obtaining a license to practice medical physics in this state for an applicant who holds a license issued by another jurisdiction with which this state has a reciprocity agreement. The board may make an agreement, subject to the approval of the governor, with another state to allow for licensing by reciprocity.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.334(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.212. LICENSE HOLDER DUTIES. A license holder shall:
(1) publicly display the license holder's license in an appropriate manner; and
(2) report immediately to the board any change in the license holder's address.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.213. PROVISIONAL LICENSE. (a) The board may issue a provisional license to an applicant currently licensed or certified in another jurisdiction who seeks a license in this state and who:
(1) has been licensed or certified in good standing as a practitioner of medical or radiologic physics for at least two years in another jurisdiction, including a foreign country, that has licensing or certification requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter;
(2) has passed a national or other examination recognized by the board relating to the practice of medical or radiologic physics; and
(3) is sponsored by a person licensed by the board under this chapter with whom the provisional license holder will practice during the time the person holds a provisional license.
(b) The board may waive the requirement of Subsection (a)(3) for an applicant if the board determines that compliance with that subsection would be a hardship to the applicant.
(c) A provisional license is valid until the date the board approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for a license. The board shall issue a license under this chapter to the provisional license holder if:
(1) the provisional license holder is eligible to be certified under Section 602.211; or
(2) the provisional license holder passes the part of the examination under Section 602.206 that relates to the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the laws and rules relating to the practice of medical physics in this state and:
(A) the board verifies that the provisional license holder meets the academic and experience requirements for a license under this chapter; and
(B) the provisional license holder satisfies any other licensing requirements under this chapter.
(d) The board must approve or deny a provisional license holder's application for a license not later than the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued. The board may extend the 180-day period if the results of an examination have not been received by the board before the end of that period.
(e) The board may establish a fee for provisional licenses in an amount reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of issuing the license.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.335(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
SUBCHAPTER F. LICENSE DENIAL AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Sec. 602.251. GROUNDS FOR LICENSE DENIAL OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. The board shall refuse to issue or renew a license, suspend or revoke a license, or reprimand a license holder for:
(1) obtaining or renewing a license by means of fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment of a material fact;
(2) having previously applied for or held a license issued by the licensing authority of another state, territory, or jurisdiction that was denied, suspended, or revoked by that licensing authority;
(3) engaging in unprofessional conduct that endangered or is likely to endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public as defined by board rule;
(4) violating this chapter, a lawful order or rule of the board, or the board's code of ethics; or
(5) being convicted of:
(A) a felony; or
(B) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or that directly relates to the person's duties as a licensed medical physicist.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.336(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.252. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE. Chapters 2001 and 2002, Government Code, and board rules for a contested hearing apply to a proceeding by the board under this subchapter.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.253. PROBATION. The board may place on probation a person whose license is suspended. If a license suspension is probated, the board may require the person to:
(1) report regularly to the department on matters that are the basis of the probation;
(2) limit practice to the areas prescribed by the board; or
(3) continue or review professional education until the person attains a degree of skill satisfactory to the board in those areas that are the basis of the probation.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.336(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.254. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION. (a) The board or a three-member committee of board members designated by the board shall temporarily suspend the license of a license holder if the board or committee determines from the evidence or information presented to it that continued practice by the license holder would constitute a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare.
(b) A license may be suspended under this section without notice or hearing on the complaint if:
(1) action is taken to initiate proceedings for a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings simultaneously with the temporary suspension; and
(2) a hearing is held as soon as practicable under this chapter and Chapter 2001, Government Code.
(c) The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall hold a preliminary hearing not later than the 14th day after the date of the temporary suspension to determine if there is probable cause to believe that a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare still exists. A final hearing on the matter shall be held not later than the 61st day after the date of the temporary suspension.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 326, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
SUBCHAPTER G. ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 602.301. INJUNCTION. The board shall prosecute or file suit to enjoin a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 602.3015. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates this chapter or a rule or order adopted by the board under this chapter is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 a day.
(b) At the request of the board, the attorney general shall bring an action to recover a civil penalty authorized under this section.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 326, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 602.302. OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) practices medical physics without holding a license under this chapter;
(2) practices a specialty of medical physics without holding a license for the specialty;
(3) practices medical physics in violation of this chapter; or
(4) uses in any manner letters, terminology, symbols, or signs to indicate or imply that the person is qualified or licensed to practice medical physics in a manner for which the person is not licensed under this chapter.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 326, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
SUBCHAPTER H. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY
Sec. 602.351. IMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The board may impose an administrative penalty on a person licensed under this chapter who violates this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter. A penalty collected under this subchapter shall be deposited in the state treasury in the general revenue fund.
(b) A proceeding to impose the penalty is considered to be a contested case under Chapter 2001, Government Code.
(c) The amount of the penalty may not exceed $500 for each violation, and each day a violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty. The total amount of the penalty assessed for a violation continuing or occurring on separate days under this subsection may not exceed $2,500.
(d) The amount shall be based on:
(1) the seriousness of the violation, including the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
(2) the threat to health or safety caused by the violation;
(3) the history of previous violations;
(4) the amount necessary to deter a future violation;
(5) whether the violator demonstrated good faith, including, when applicable, whether the violator made good faith efforts to correct the violation; and
(6) any other matter that justice may require.
(e) If the executive secretary determines that a violation occurred, the executive secretary shall give written notice of the report by certified mail to the person.
(f) The notice under Subsection (e) must:
(1) include a brief summary of the alleged violation;
(2) state the amount of the recommended penalty; and
(3) inform the person of the person's right to a hearing on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.
(g) Within 20 days after the date the person receives the notice under Subsection (e), the person in writing may:
(1) accept the determination and recommended penalty of the executive secretary; or
(2) make a request for a hearing on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.
(h) If the person accepts the determination and recommended penalty or if the person fails to respond to the notice, the board by order shall approve the determination and impose the recommended penalty.
(i) If the person requests a hearing, the board shall refer the matter to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which shall promptly set a hearing date and give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the person. An administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct the hearing.
(j) The administrative law judge shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and promptly issue to the board a proposal for a decision about the occurrence of the violation and the amount of a proposed penalty.
(k) Based on the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposal for a decision, the board by order may determine that:
(1) a violation occurred and impose a penalty; or
(2) a violation did not occur.
(l) The notice of the board's order under Subsection (k) that is sent to the person in accordance with Chapter 2001, Government Code, must include a statement of the right of the person to judicial review of the order.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.337(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 602.352. PAYMENT AND COLLECTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY; JUDICIAL REVIEW. (a) Within 30 days after the date an order of the board under Section 602.351(k) that imposes an administrative penalty becomes final, the person shall:
(1) pay the penalty; or
(2) file a petition for judicial review of the board's order contesting the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.
(b) Within the 30-day period prescribed by Subsection (a), a person who files a petition for judicial review may:
(1) stay enforcement of the penalty by:
(A) paying the penalty to the court for placement in an escrow account; or
(B) giving the court a supersedeas bond approved by the court that is:
(i) for the amount of the penalty; and
(ii) effective until all judicial review of the board's order is final; or
(2) request the court to stay enforcement of the penalty by:
(A) filing with the court a sworn affidavit of the person stating that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and
(B) sending a copy of the affidavit to the board by certified mail.
(c) If the board receives a copy of an affidavit under Subsection (b)(2), the board may file with the court, within five days after the date the copy is received, a contest to the affidavit. The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in the affidavit as soon as practicable and shall stay the enforcement of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The person who files an affidavit has the burden of proving that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty or to give a supersedeas bond.
(d) If the person does not pay the penalty and the enforcement of the penalty is not stayed, the penalty may be collected. The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
(e) If the court sustains the determination that a violation occurred, the court may uphold or reduce the amount of the penalty and order the person to pay the full or reduced amount of the penalty.
(f) If the court does not sustain the determination that a violation occurred, the court shall order that a penalty is not owed.
(g) If the person paid the penalty and if the amount of the penalty is reduced or the penalty is not upheld by the court, the court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, that the appropriate amount plus accrued interest be remitted to the person within 30 days after the date that the judgment of the court becomes final. The interest accrues at the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The interest shall be paid for the period beginning on the date the penalty is paid and ending on the date the penalty is remitted.
(h) If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the penalty is not upheld by the court, the court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, the release of the bond. If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the amount of the penalty is reduced, the court shall order the release of the bond after the person pays the reduced amount.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.337(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
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