NURSING PRACTICE ACT, NURSING PEER REVIEW, & NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT TEXAS OCCUPATIONS CODE AND STATUTES REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING As Amended September 2013

Nursing Practice Act, Nursing Peer Review Act,& Nurse Licensure Compact

Texas Occupations Code and Rules Regulating the Practice of Nursing Effective September 2013

Agency Mission

The mission of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON or Board) is to protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas by ensuring that each person holding a license as a nurse in this state is competent to practice safely. The Board fulfills its mission through the regulation of the practice of nursing and the approval of nursing educational programs. This mission, derived from the Nursing Practice Act, supersedes the interest of any individual, the nursing profession, or any special interest group.

Notice

The 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature passed four bills which amended the Nursing Practice Act (NPA).

House Bill 581 authorizes a nurse employed by a hospital operated by or on behalf of a state or local entity to sue the governmental entity to recover limited damages for certain retaliatory actions taken against the nurse for fulfilling obligations as a licensed nurse practicing under Texas law; and specified that sovereign immunity of the state or local governmental entity from suit and from liability is waived for the limited purpose of allowing the nurse to maintain a lawsuit in state court to obtain such relief.

Senate Bill (SB) 406 eliminated the requirement for on-site physician supervision of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and increased the number of APRNs a physician can supervise from four to seven. Additionally, physicians are allowed to delegate authority to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances in hospitals and hospice settings and requires periodic face-to-face meetings between APRNs and the delegating physician.

SB 743 requires the BON to suspend a nurse’s license or refuse to issue a license to an applicant on proof that the nurse or applicant has been initially convicted of an offense involving a violation of certain court orders or conditions of bond under Section 25.07, 25.071, or 25.072, Penal Code, punished as a felony, or other offenses.

SB 1058 added new continuing education requirements related to nursing jurisprudence and ethics, as well as continuing education related to older adults or geriatric populations for nurses working in a practice area related to geriatric populations. SB 1058 also made criminal background checks mandatory for students accepted for enrollment in a nursing education program and permits the Board
of Nursing (BON or Board) to initiate declaratory orders for eligibility proceedings based on positive criminal background checks; made permanent the Board’s authority to impose deferred disciplinary action; clarified that action may be taken against a nurse’s license based on action taken by a division of the United States Military; authorized the BON, in conjunction with a disciplinary action, to require a nurse to abstain from use of alcohol and drugs and submit to random drug testing; provided for limited non-disclosure of disciplinary proceedings that result in a Board order requiring the nurse to participate in a Board-approved peer assistance program to address a problem that the nurse is experiencing with mental illness or chemical dependency; as well as making other changes relating to disciplinary action taken by the Board.

Introduction

Welcome to the practice of nursing in the State of Texas. As you continue to practice as a nurse in Texas, it is your responsibility to be aware of changes to the law and the Board’s rules and regulations. Changes are reported in the Board’s quarterly newsletter mailed to all nurses licensed in Texas as well as posted on the BON web site. To assist you in being aware of these changes, the Board offers the following information and detailed table of contents.

Chapter 301 of the Texas Occupations Code (TOC) contains the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) which creates the BON and defines its responsibility for regulating nursing education, licensure and practice. Chapter 303 relates to Nursing Peer Review and Chapter 304 relates to the Nurse Licensure Compact. These chapters of the TOC define nursing practice and give the Board the authority to make rules which implement and interpret the NPA. Licensees are required to comply with the NPA and the Board’s rules. The NPA and the Rules are amended from time to time. Only the Legislature can change the NPA, so statutory changes only occur every two years. The Board makes
rule changes as needed to assist in the application of the NPA to evolving practice conditions and settings. It is necessary, therefore, that you keep up with the changes. You may obtain copies of this pamphlet at a nominal cost by writing to the Board’s office at: 333 Guadalupe, Ste. 3-460, Austin, Texas 78701; calling 512/305-7400; or accessing our web page at www.bon.texas.gov.
Any person practicing or offering to practice nursing in this state is required to have a license. Your license must be renewed every two years in order to continue practicing in Texas. Once licensed, you are authorized to use the title “RN” or “LVN” and are required to wear a name tag identifying yourself as a “RN” or “LVN” while providing patient care.

You must keep the Board informed of your current address at all times. To inform the Board of your address change or a name change, send written notice, clearly marked “change of address” or “name change” to the Board’s office within ten (10) days of the occurrence. Failure to do so can result in a lapse of your license and potential disciplinary action.

Nurses practicing in this state are expected to know and practice in compliance with chapters 301, 303, 304 and 305 of the TOC and with the Board’s Rules. Please refer to the following “Quick Reference” section. The Board’s Rules and Regulations Relating to Nurse Education, Licensure and Practice can be found at our web site or purchased from the Board office.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUBTITLE E. REGULATION OF NURSING

CHAPTER 301. NURSES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 301.001. SHORT TITLE
Sec. 301.002. DEFINITIONS
Sec. 301.003. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT
Sec. 301.004. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER
Sec. 301.005. REFERENCE IN OTHER LAW

SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING

Sec. 301.051. BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 301.052. MEMBER ELIGIBILITY
Sec. 301.053. MEMBERSHIP AND EMPLOYEE RESTRICTIONS
Sec. 301.054. TERMS
Sec. 301.055. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL
Sec. 301.056. PER DIEM; REIMBURSEMENT
Sec. 301.057. OFFICERS
Sec. 301.058. MEETINGS
Sec. 301.059. TRAINING

SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PERSONNEL

Sec. 301.101. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sec. 301.102. [REPEALED]
Sec. 301.103. PUBLIC RECORDS; REGISTRY
Sec. 301.104. PERSONNEL; EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE
Sec. 301.105. DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Sec. 301.106. QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT INFORMATION
Sec. 301.107. CAREER LADDER PROGRAM; PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS
Sec. 301.108. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY; REPORT

SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD

Sec. 301.151. GENERAL RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Sec. 301.152. RULES REGARDING SPECIALIZED TRAINING
Sec. 301.153. RULES REGARDING ADVERTISING AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING
Sec. 301.154. RULES REGARDING DELEGATION OF CERTAIN MEDICAL ACTS
Sec.301.1545.RULES ON CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL CONVICTION OR DEFERRED ADJUDICATION
Sec. 301.155. FEES
Sec. 301.156. GIFTS AND GRANTS
Sec. 301.157. PROGRAMS OF STUDY AND APPROVAL
Sec. 301.158. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
Sec. 301.1581.INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LICENSE HOLDERS
Sec. 301.1582.POISON CONTROL CENTER INFORMATION
Sec. 301.159.BOARD DUTIES REGARDING COMPLAINTS
Sec. 301.1595.ADVISORY COMMITTEES
Sec. 301.160.PILOT PROGRAMS
Sec. 301.1605.PILOT PROGRAMS FOR INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS
Sec. 301.1606.PILOT PROGRAMS ON NURSE REPORTING SYSTEMS
Sec. 301.1607.PILOT PROGRAM ON DEFERRAL OF FINAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Sec. 301.161.ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 301.1615.OBTAINING CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION; HEARING
Sec. 301.162.LEGAL COUNSEL
Sec. 301.163.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS; REPORT
Sec. 301.164. ASSISTANCE OF PROSECUTOR
Sec. 301.166. USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 301.167. NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING; ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Sec. 301.168. DUTIES REGARDING PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY AGREEMENTS

SUBCHAPTER E. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

Sec. 301.201. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION
Sec. 301.202. COMPLAINTS
Sec. 301.203. RECORDS AND ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS
Sec. 301.204. GENERAL RULES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES REGARDING COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION AND DISPOSITION
Sec. 301.205. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Sec. 301.206. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION COLLECTED FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAMS
Sec. 301.207. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR LICENSURE

SUBCHAPTER F. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 301.251. LICENSE REQUIRED
Sec. 301.2511. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION FOR LICENSE APPLICANTS
Sec. 301.252. LICENSE APPLICATION
Sec. 301.253. EXAMINATION
Sec. 301.254. EXAMINATION RESULTS
Sec. 301.255. REEXAMINATION
Sec. 301.256. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE
Sec. 301.257. DECLARATORY ORDER OF LICENSE ELIGIBILITY
Sec. 301.258. TEMPORARY PERMIT
Sec. 301.259. RECIPROCAL LICENSE BY ENDORSEMENT FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN APPLICANTS
Sec. 301.260. TEMPORARY LICENSE BY ENDORSEMENT
Sec. 301.261. INACTIVE STATUS

SUBCHAPTER G. LICENSE RENEWAL

Sec. 301.301. LICENSE RENEWAL
Sec. 301.3011. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWAL
Sec. 301.302. RENEWAL OF EXPIRED LICENSE BY OUT-OF-STATE PRACTITIONER
Sec. 301.303. CONTINUING COMPETENCY
Sec. 301.304. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN TICK-BORNE DISEASES
Sec. 301.305. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN NURSING JURISPRUDENCE AND NURSING ETHICS [NEW]
Sec. 301.306. FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTION COMPONENT IN CONTINUING EDUCATION
Sec. 301.307. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN OLDER ADULT OR GERIATRIC CARE [NEW]

SUBCHAPTER H. PRACTICE BY LICENSE HOLDER

Sec. 301.351. DESIGNATIONS
Sec. 301.352. PROTECTION FOR REFUSAL TO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN CONDUCT
Sec. 301.353. SUPERVISION OF VOCATIONAL NURSE
Sec. 301.354. NURSE FIRST ASSISTANTS; ASSISTING AT SURGERY BY OTHER NURSES
Sec. 301.356. REFUSAL OF MANDATORY OVERTIME

SUBCHAPTER I. REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND PATIENT CARE CONCERNS

Sec. 301.401. DEFINITIONS
Sec. 301.4011. GOOD FAITH REPORT BY NURSE
Sec. 301.402. MANDATORY REPORT BY NURSE
Sec. 301.4025. OPTIONAL REPORT BY NURSE
Sec. 301.403. DUTY OF PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE TO REPORT
Sec. 301.404. DUTY OF NURSING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO REPORT
Sec. 301.405. DUTY OF PERSON EMPLOYING NURSE TO REPORT
Sec. 301.406. DUTY OF CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REPORT
Sec. 301.407. DUTY OF STATE AGENCY TO REPORT
Sec. 301.408. DUTY OF LIABILITY INSURER TO REPORT
Sec. 301.409. DUTY OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY TO REPORT
Sec. 301.410. REPORT REGARDING IMPAIRMENT BY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, MENTAL ILLNESS, OR
DIMINISHED MENTAL CAPACITY
Sec. 301.4105. BOARD RESPONSIBILITY FOLLOWING REPORT
Sec. 301.4106. PEER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Sec. 301.411. EFFECT OF FAILURE TO REPORT
Sec. 301.412. REPORTING IMMUNITY
Sec. 301.413. RETALIATORY ACTION
Sec. 301.414. NOTICE AND REVIEW OF REPORT
Sec. 301.415. REBUTTAL STATEMENT
Sec. 301.416. INVESTIGATION
Sec. 301.417. CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS; DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Sec. 301.418. DISCLOSURE OF CHARGES OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Sec. 301.419. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING DUTY TO REPORT; MINOR INCIDENTS

SUBCHAPTER J. PROHIBITED PRACTICES AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Sec. 301.451. CERTAIN PROHIBITED PRACTICES
Sec. 301.4515. USE OF CERTAIN NURSING TITLES
Sec. 301.452. GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Sec. 301.4521. PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Sec. 301.453. DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY OF BOARD; METHODS OF DISCIPLINE
Sec. 301.4531. SCHEDULE OF SANCTIONS
Sec. 301.4535. REQUIRED SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, OR REFUSAL OF LICENSE FOR
CERTAIN OFFENSES
Sec. 301.454. NOTICE AND HEARING
Sec. 301.455. TEMPORARY LICENSE SUSPENSION OR RESTRICTION
Sec. 301.4551. TEMPORARY LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE
Sec. 301.456. EVIDENCE
Sec. 301.457. COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION
Sec. 301.458. INITIATION OF FORMAL CHARGES; DISCOVERY
Sec. 301.459. FORMAL HEARING
Sec. 301.460. ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Sec. 301.461. ASSESSMENT OF COSTS
Sec. 301.462. VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF LICENSE
Sec. 301.463. AGREED DISPOSITION
Sec. 301.464. INFORMAL PROCEEDINGS
Sec. 301.465. SUBPOENAS; REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Sec. 301.466. CONFIDENTIALITY
Sec. 301.467. REINSTATEMENT
Sec. 301.468. PROBATION
Sec. 301.469. NOTICE OF FINAL ACTION
Sec. 301.470. REFUND
Sec. 301.471. EMERGENCY CEASE AND DESIST ORDER

SUBCHAPTER K. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY

Sec. 301.501. IMPOSITION OF PENALTY
Sec. 301.502. AMOUNT OF PENALTY
Sec. 301.503. REPORT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PENALTY
Sec. 301.504. PENALTY TO BE PAID OR HEARING REQUESTED
Sec. 301.505. HEARING
Sec. 301.506. DECISION BY BOARD
Sec. 301.507. OPTIONS FOLLOWING DECISION: PAY OR APPEAL
Sec. 301.508. COLLECTION OF PENALTY
Sec. 301.509. DETERMINATION BY COURT
Sec. 301.510. REMITTANCE OF PENALTY AND INTEREST
Sec. 301.511. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

SUBCHAPTER L. OTHER PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS

Sec. 301.551. INJUNCTION
Sec. 301.552. MONITORING OF LICENSE HOLDER
Sec. 301.553. CIVIL PENALTY
Sec. 301.554. CRIMINAL PENALTY
Sec. 301.555. APPEAL

SUBCHAPTER M. ANESTHESIA IN OUTPATIENT SETTING

Sec. 301.601. DEFINITION
Sec. 301.602. RULES
Sec. 301.603. APPLICABILITY
Sec. 301.604. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sec. 301.605. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES
Sec. 301.606. INSPECTIONS
Sec. 301.607. REQUESTS FOR INSPECTION AND ADVISORY OPINION

SUBCHAPTER N. CORRECTIVE ACTION PROCEEDING AND DEFERRED ACTION

Sec. 301.651. DEFINITIONS
Sec. 301.652. IMPOSITION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION
Sec. 301.653. REPORT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
Sec. 301.654. RESPONSE
Sec. 301.655. ACTION FOLLOWING RESPONSE
Sec. 301.6555. DEFERRED ACTION
Sec. 301.656. REPORT TO BOARD
Sec. 301.657. EFFECT ON ACCEPTANCE OF CORRECTIVE OR DEFERRED ACTION

CHAPTER 303. NURSING PEER REVIEW

Sec. 303.001. DEFINITIONS
Sec. 303.0015. REQUIRED ESTABLISHMENT OF NURSING PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE
Sec. 303.002. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING PEER REVIEW
Sec. 303.003. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 303.004. PEER REVIEW BY TWO ENTITIES
Sec. 303.005. REQUEST FOR PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE DETERMINATION
Sec. 303.006. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PEER REVIEW PROCEEDINGS
Sec. 303.007. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Sec.303.0075. SHARING OF INFORMATION
Sec. 303.008. REBUTTAL STATEMENT
Sec. 303.009. RETALIATORY ACTIONS
Sec. 303.010. CIVIL LIABILITY
Sec. 303.011. EVALUATION BY COMMITTEE
Sec. 303.012. ERROR CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 304. NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT

Art. 1 Findings and Declaration of Purpose
Art. 2 Definitions
Art. 3 General Provisions and Jurisdiction
Art. 4 Application for License in a Party State
Art. 5 Adverse Actions
Art. 6 Additional Authorities of Party State Nurse Licensing Board
Art. 7 Coordinated Licensure Information System
Art. 8 Compact Administration and Exchange of Information
Art. 9 Immunity
Art. 10 Effective Date, Withdrawal, and Amendment
Art. 11 Construction and Severability

Subchapter A. General Provisions

Sec. 301.001. Short Title.

This chapter may be cited as the Nursing Practice Act.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.002. Definitions.

In this chapter:

(1) “Board” means the Texas Board of Nursing.

(2) “Professional nursing” means the performance of an act that requires substantial specialized judgment and skill, the proper performance of which is based on knowledge and application of the principles of biological, physical, and social science as acquired by a completed course in an approved school of professional nursing. The term does not include acts of medical diagnosis or the prescription of therapeutic or corrective measures. Professional nursing involves:
      (A) the observation, assessment, intervention, evaluation, rehabilitation, care and counsel, or health teachings of a person who is ill,         injured, infirm, or experiencing a change in normal health processes;
        (B) the maintenance of health or prevention of illness;
        (C) the administration of a medication or treatment as ordered by a physician, podiatrist, or dentist;
        (D) the supervision or teaching of nursing;
        (E) the administration, supervision, and evaluation of nursing practices, policies, and procedures;
        (F) the requesting, receiving, signing for, and distribution of prescription drug samples to patients at practices at which an
         advanced practice registered nurse is authorized to sign prescription drug orders as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 157;
        (G) the performance of an act delegated by a physician under Section 157.0512, 157.054, 157.058, or 157.059; and
        (H) the development of the nursing care plan.

(3) “Nurse” means a person required to be licensed under this chapter to engage in professional or vocational nursing.

(4) “Nursing” means professional or vocational nursing.

[Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 406), 83rd Leg., eff. Nov. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.003. Application of Sunset Act.

The Texas Board of Nursing is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the board is abolished September 1, 2017.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.004. Application of Chapter.

(a) This chapter does not apply to:
         (1) gratuitous nursing care of the sick that is provided by a friend;
         (2) nursing care provided during a disaster under the state emergency management plan adopted under Section 418.042, Government
         Code, if the person providing the care does not hold the person out as a nurse unless the person is licensed in another state;
         (3) nursing care in which treatment is solely by prayer or spiritual means;
         (4) an act performed by a person under the delegated authority of a person licensed by the Texas Medical Board;
         (5) an act performed by a person licensed by another state agency if the act is authorized by the statute under which the person is
         licensed except that if the person also holds a license under this chapter and the act is within the practice of nursing, the board may
         take action against that license based on that act;
         (6) the practice of nursing that is incidental to a program of study by a student enrolled in a nursing education program approved under
         Section 301.157(d) leading to an initial license as a nurse; or
         (7) the practice of nursing by a person licensed in another state who is in this state on a nonroutine basis for a period not to exceed
         72 hours to:
                (A) provide care to a patient being transported into, out of, or through this state;
                (B) provide nursing consulting services; or
                (C) attend or present a continuing nursing education program.

(b) This chapter does not authorize the practice of medicine as defined by Chapter 151.

[Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.005. Reference in Other Law.

(a) A reference in any other law to the former Board of Nurse Examiners means the Texas Board of Nursing.

(b) A reference in any other law to an “advanced nurse practitioner” or “advanced practice nurse” means an advanced practice registered nurse.

[Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 406), 83rd Leg., eff. Nov. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter B. Texas Board of Nursing

Sec. 301.051. Board Membership.

(a) The Texas Board of Nursing consists of 13 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate as follows:
        (1) six nurse members, including:
                (A) one advanced practice nurse;
                (B) two registered nurses who are not advanced practice nurses or members of a nurse faculty; and
                (C) three vocational nurses who are not members of a nurse faculty;
         (2) three members who are nurse faculty members of schools of nursing:
                (A) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a school of nursing offering a baccalaureate degree program
                in reparing registered nurses;
                (B) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a school of nursing offering an associate degree
               program in preparing registered nurses;and
                (C) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a school of nursing at an institution of higher education
                preparing vocational nurses; and
          (3) four members who represent the public.

(b) Appointments to the Board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex,
    religion, age, or national origin of the appointee.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.052. Member Eligibility.

(a) A person is not eligible for appointment as a registered nurse or vocational nurse member of the board unless the person has practiced nursing in the role for which the member was appointed for at least three of the five years preceding the date of appointment.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.053. Membership and Employee Restrictions.

(a) In this section, “Texas Trade Association” means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide 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.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.054. Terms.

Members of the board serve staggered six-year terms, with the terms of as near to one-third of the members as possible expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.055. Grounds for Removal.

(b) The validity of an action of the board is not affected by the fact that the action is taken when a ground for removal of a board member exists.

(c) If the executive director has knowledge that a potential ground for removal exists, the executive director 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 executive director 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.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 889, § 74(1), eff. September 1, 2007.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.056. Per Diem; Reimbursement.

(a) Each board member is entitled to receive a per diem as set by the General Appropriations Act for each day the member engages in the business of the Board.

(b) A board member is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while conducting board business, including expenses for transportation, meals, and lodging, as provided by the General Appropriations Act.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.057. Officers.

(a) The Governor shall designate a member of the Board as presiding officer to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.

(b) The Board shall elect other officers from its members.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.058. Meetings.

The presiding officer shall call a special Board meeting on the written request of at least two board members.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.059. 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 in attendance at a meeting of the board until the person completes a training program that complies with this section.

(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.

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter C. Executive Director and Personnel

Sec. 301.101. Executive Director.

(a) The Board shall employ an executive director. The Executive Director may not be a member of the Board.

(b) Under the direction of the Board, the Executive Director shall perform the duties required by this chapter or designated by the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.103. Public Records; Registry.

(b) Information maintained under this section is open to public inspection at all times.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.104. Personnel; Employment Practices.

The Board shall employ persons as necessary to carry on the work of the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.105. Division of Responsibilities.

(a) The Board shall develop and implement policies that clearly define the respective responsibilities of the Board and the staff of the Board.

(b) The Board shall determine the salaries and compensation to be paid to employees and persons retained by the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.106. Qualifications and Standards of Conduct Information.

The Board shall provide, as often as necessary, to its members and employees information regarding their:

(1) qualifications for office or employment under this chapter; and

(2) responsibilities under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state officers or employees.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.107. Career Ladder Program; Performance Evaluations.

(a) The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee shall develop an intra-agency career ladder program. The program must require intra-agency posting of all non-entry level positions concurrently with any public posting.

(b) The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee shall develop a system of annual performance evaluations based on measurable job tasks. All merit pay for Board employees must be based on the system established under this subsection.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.108. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy; Report.

(a) The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee shall prepare and maintain a written policy statement to ensure
     implementation of an equal employment opportunity program under which all personnel transactions are made without regard to race,
     color,disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin. The policy statement must include:
     (1) personnel policies, including policies relating to recruitment, evaluation, selection, application, training, and promotion of
           personnel that are in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 21, Labor Code;
     (2) a comprehensive analysis of the Board workforce that meets federal and state guidelines;
     (3) procedures by which a determination can be made of significant under use in the board workforce
           of all persons for whom federal or state guidelines encourage a more equitable balance; and
     (4) reasonable methods to appropriately address those areas of under use.

(b) A policy statement prepared under Subsection (a) must:
     (1) cover an annual period;
     (2) be updated annually;
     (3) be reviewed by the Commission on Human Rights for compliance with Subsection (a)(1); and
     (4) be filed with the Governor.

(c) The Governor shall deliver a biennial report to the Legislature based on the information received under Subsection (b). The report may be made separately or as part of other biennial reports to the legislature.

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter D. General Powers and Duties of Board

Sec. 301.151. General Rulemaking Authority.

The Board may adopt and enforce rules consistent with this chapter and necessary to:

(1) perform its duties and conduct proceedings before the Board;

(2) regulate the practice of professional nursing and vocational nursing;

(3) establish standards of professional conduct for license holders under this chapter; and

(4) determine whether an act constitutes the practice of professional nursing or vocational nursing.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.152. Rules Regarding Specialized Training.

(a) In this section, “advanced practice registered nurse” means a registered nurse licensed by the board to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse on the basis of completion of an advanced educational program. The term includes a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, and clinical nurse specialist. The term is synonymous with “advanced nurse practitioner” and “advanced practice nurse.”

(b) The board shall adopt rules to:
    (1) license a registered nurse as an advanced practice registered nurse;
    (2) establish:
        (A) any specialized education or training, including pharmacology, that an advanced practice registered nurse
        must have to prescribe or order a drug or device as delegated by a physician under Section 157.0512 or 157.054;
        (B) a system for approving an advanced practice registered nurse to prescribe or order a drug or device as delegated
        by a physician under Section 157.0512 or 157.054 on the receipt of evidence of completing the specialized education
        and training requirement under Paragraph (A); and
        (C) a system for issuing a prescription authorization number to an advanced practice registered nurse approved  
         under Paragraph (B); and
    (3) concurrently renew any license or approval granted to an advanced practice registered nurse
         under this subsection and a license renewed by the advanced practice registered nurse under Section 301.301.

(d) The signature of an advanced practice registered nurse attesting to the provision of a legally authorized service by the advanced practice registered nurse satisfies any documentation requirement for that service established by a state agency.

[Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 406), 83rd Leg., eff. Nov. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1525. Nurse First Assistants.

[Repealed by Acts 2005 (H.B. 1718), 79th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2005. Replaced by Sec. 301.353]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1526. Certain Nurses Directly Assisting in Surgery.

[Repealed by Acts 2005 (H.B. 1718), 79th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2005. Replaced by Sec. 301.353.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1527. Certain Nurses Directly Assisting in Surgery in Small Hospitals.

[Repealed by Acts 2005 (H.B. 1718), 79th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2005. Replaced by Sec. 301.353.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.153. Rules Regarding Advertising and Competitive Bidding.

(a) The Board may not adopt rules restricting advertising or competitive bidding by a person except to prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive practices by the person.

Return to Table of Contents

---

Sec. 301.154. Rules Regarding Delegation of Certain Medical Acts.

(b) A recommendation under Subsection (a) shall be treated in the same manner as a petition for the adoption of a rule by an interested party under Chapter 2001, Government Code.

(c) The Board in recommending a rule and the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners in acting on a recommended rule shall, to the extent allowable under state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations, act to enable the state to obtain its fair share of the federal funds available for the delivery of health care in this state.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1545. Rules on Consequences of Criminal Conviction or Deferred Adjudication.

(b) In its rules under this section, the board shall list the offenses for which a conviction would constitute grounds for the board to take action under Section 53.021 or for which placement on deferred adjudication community supervision would constitute grounds for the board to take action under this chapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.155. Fees.

(b) The Board may adopt a fee in an amount necessary for a periodic newsletter to produce and disseminate to license holders the information required under Section 301.158.

(c) The board shall assess a surcharge of not less than $3.00 or more than $5.00 for a registered nurse and a surcharge of not less than $2.00 or more than $3.00 for a vocational nurse to the fee established by the board under Subsection (a) for a license holder to renew a license under this chapter. The board may use nine cents of the registered nurse surcharge and six cents of the vocational nurse surcharge to cover the administrative costs of collecting and depositing the surcharge. The board quarterly shall transmit the remainder of each surcharge to the Department of State Health Services to be used only to implement the nursing resource section under Section 105.002, Health and Safety Code. The board is not required to collect the surcharge if the board determines the funds collected are not appropriated for the purpose of funding the nursing resource section.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.156. Gifts and Grants.

The Board may receive gifts, grants, or other funds or assets.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.157. Programs of Study and Approval.

(a-1) A diploma program of study in this state that leads to an initial license as a registered nurse under this chapter and that is completed on or after December 31, 2014, must entitle a student to receive a degree on the student’s successful completion of a degree program of a public or private institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(b) The board shall:
        (1) prescribe two programs of study to prepare a person to receive an initial vocational nurse license under this chapter as follows:
            (A) a program conducted by an educational unit in nursing within the structure of a school, including a college,
            university, or proprietary school; and
            (B) a program conducted by a hospital;
        (2) prescribe and publish the minimum requirements and standards for a course of study in each program that prepares
        registered nurses or vocational nurses;
        (3) prescribe other rules as necessary to conduct approved schools of nursing and educational programs for the preparation of
        registered nurses or vocational nurses;
        (4) approve schools of nursing and educational programs that meet the board’s requirements;
        (5) select one or more national nursing accrediting agencies, recognized by the United States Department of Education and
         determined by the board to have acceptable standards, to accredit schools of nursing and educational programs; and
        (6) deny or withdraw approval from a school of nursing or educational program that:
                (A) fails to meet the prescribed course of study or other standard under which it sought approval by the board;
                (B) fails to meet or maintain accreditation with the national nursing accrediting agency selected by the board
                under Subdivision (5) under which it was approved or sought approval by the board;or
                (C) fails to maintain the approval of the state board of nursing of another state and the board under which it was approved.

(b-1) The board may not require accreditation of the governing institution of a school of nursing. The board shall accept the requirements established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for accrediting the governing institution of a school of nursing. The governing institution of a professional nursing school, not including a diploma program, must be accredited by an agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or hold a certificate of authority from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under provisions leading to accreditation of the institution in due course.

(c) A program approved to prepare registered nurses may not be less than two academic years or more than four calendar years.

(d) A person may not be certified as a graduate of any school of nursing or educational program unless the person has completed the requirements of the prescribed course of study, including clinical practice, of a school of nursing or educational program that:
        (1) is approved by the board;
        (2) is accredited by a national nursing accreditation agency determined by the board to have acceptable standards; or
        (3) is approved by a state board of nursing of another state and the board, subject to Subsection (d-4).

(d-1) A school of nursing or educational program is considered approved by the board and, except as provided by Subsection (d-7), is exempt from board rules that require ongoing approval if the school or program:
        (1) is accredited and maintains accreditation through a national nursing accrediting agency selected by the board under
         Subsection (b)(5); and
         (2) maintains an acceptable pass rate as determined by the board on the applicable licensing examination under this chapter.

(d-2) A school of nursing or educational program that fails to meet or maintain an acceptable pass rate on applicable licensing examinations under this chapter is subject to review by the board. The board may assist the school or program in its effort to achieve compliance with the board’s standards.

(d-3) A school or program from which approval has been withdrawn under this section may reapply for approval.

(d-4) The board may recognize and accept as approved under this section a school of nursing or educational program operated in another state and approved by a state board of nursing or other regulatory body of that state. The board shall develop policies to ensure that the other state’s standards are substantially equivalent to the board’s standards.

(d-5) The board shall streamline the process for initially approving a school of nursing or educational program under this section by identifying and eliminating tasks performed by the board that duplicate or overlap tasks performed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or the Texas Workforce Commission.

(d-6) The board, in cooperation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall establish guidelines for the initial approval of schools of nursing or educational programs. The guidelines must:
        (1) identify the approval processes to be conducted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or the Texas
        Workforce Commission;
        (2) require the approval process identified under Subdivision (1) to precede the approval process conducted by the board; and
        (3) be made available on the Board’s Internet website and in a written form.

(d-7) A school of nursing or educational program approved under Subsection (d-1) shall:
        (1) provide the board with copies of any reports submitted to or received from the national nursing accrediting agency selected
             by the board;
        (2) notify the board of any change in accreditation status; and
        (3) provide other information required by the board as necessary to evaluate and establish nursing education and workforce
             policy in this state.

(d-8) For purposes of Subsection (d-4), a nursing program is considered to meet standards substantially equivalent to the board’s standards if the program:
        (1) is part of an institution of higher education located outside this state that is approved by the appropriate regulatory
         authorities of that state;
        (2) holds regional accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by the United States secretary of education and the Council for Higher
         Education Accreditation;
        (3) holds specialty accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by the United States secretary of education and the
        Council for Higher Education Accreditation, including the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission;
        (4) requires program applicants to be a licensed practical or vocational nurse, a military service corpsman, or a paramedic, or
         to hold a college degree in a clinically oriented health care field with demonstrated experience providing direct patient care; and
        (5) graduates students who:
                (A) achieve faculty-determined program outcomes, including passing criterion-referenced examinations of nursing knowledge
                essential to beginning a registered nursing practice and transitioning to the role of registered nurse;
                (B) pass a criterion-referenced summative performance examination developed by faculty subject matter experts that measures
                clinical competencies essential to beginning a registered nursing practice and that meets nationally recognized standards for
                educational testing, including the educational testing standards of the American Educational Research Association, the American
                Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education; and
                (C) pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses at a rate equivalent to the passage rate for
                 students of approved in-state programs.

(d-9) A graduate of a clinical competency assessment program operated in another state and approved by a state board of nursing or other regulatory body of another state is eligible to apply for an initial license under this chapter if:
        (1) the board allowed graduates of the program to apply for an initial license under this chapter continuously during the
         10-year period preceding January 1, 2007;
        (2) the program does not make any substantial changes in the length or content of its clinical competency assessment
        without the board’s approval;
        (3) the program remains in good standing with the state board of nursing or other regulatory body in the other state; and
        (4) the program participates in the research study under Section 105.008, Health and Safety Code.

(d-10) In this section, the terms “clinical competency assessment program” and “supervised clinical learning experiences program”
have the meanings assigned by Section 105.008, Health and Safety Code.

(d-11) Subsections (d-8), (d-9), (d-10), and (d-11) expire December 31, 2017. As part of the first review conducted under Section 301.003
after September 1, 2009, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall:
        (1) recommend whether Subsections (d-8) and (d-9) should be extended; and
        (2) recommend any changes to Subsections (d-8) and (d-9) relating to the eligibility for a license of graduates of a clinical
         competency assessment program operated in another state.

(e) The Board shall give each person, including an organization, affected by an order or decision of the board under this section reasonable notice of not less than 20 days and an opportunity to appear and be heard regarding the order or decision. The Board shall hear each protest or complaint from a person affected by a rule or decision regarding:
        (1) the inadequacy or unreasonableness of any rule or order the Board adopts; or
        (2) the injustice of any order or decision of the Board.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Subsections (d-8), (d-9), (d-10), and (d-11) added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.158. Dissemination of Information.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1581. Information Provided to License Holders.

At least once each biennium, the Board shall provide to license holders information on:

(1) prescribing and dispensing pain medications, with particular emphasis on Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances;

(2) abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons who use prescription pain medications;

(3) common diversion strategies employed by certain persons who use prescription pain medications, including fraudulent prescription
     patterns; and

(4) the appropriate use of pain medications and the differences between addiction, pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and physical dependence.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1582. Poison Control Center Information.

The Board shall provide to license holders information regarding the services provided by poison control centers.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.159. Board Duties Regarding Complaints.

(b) The Board shall provide reasonable assistance to a person who wishes to file a complaint with the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1595. Advisory Committees.

(a) The board may appoint advisory committees to perform the advisory functions assigned by the board.

(b) An advisory committee shall provide independent expertise on board functions and policies, but may not be involved in setting board policy.

(d) A board member may not serve as a member of an advisory committee, but may serve as a liaison between an advisory committee and the board. A board member liaison that attends advisory committee meetings may attend only as an observer and not as a participant. A board member liaison is not required to attend advisory committee meetings. The role of a board member liaison is limited to clarifying the Board’s charge and intent to the advisory committee.

(e) To the extent of any conflict with Chapter 2110, Government Code, this section and Board rules adopted under this section control.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.160. Pilot Programs.

(c) A pilot program under Subsection (b) must be designed to test the effectiveness of a variety of mechanisms in a variety of practice settings.

(d) The Board may approve a pilot program under Subsection (b) that is to be conducted by a person other than the board.

(e) The Board may spend funds to develop or fund a pilot program and may contract with, make grants to, or make other arrangements with an agency, professional association, institution, individual, or other person to implement this section.

(i) Except as provided by this subsection, in developing or approving a pilot program under this section the Board may exempt the program from rules adopted under this chapter. Subchapter I and Chapter 303 apply to pilot programs, except that Sections 303.002(e), 303.003, and 303.008(b) do not apply to a pilot program using proactive peer review. The Board may establish alternative criteria for nursing peer review committees conducting proactive peer review.

(j) The Board shall issue an annual report regarding any pilot programs developed or approved and a status report on those programs, including preliminary or final findings concerning their effectiveness. The Board shall mail the report to statewide associations of nurses and nurse educators and employers of nurses that request a copy.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Subsections (f), (g) and (h) repealed by Acts 2007 (H.B. 2426), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1605. Pilot Programs for Innovative Applications.

(a) The Board may approve and adopt rules regarding pilot programs for innovative applications in the practice and regulation of nursing.

(b) The Board shall specify the procedures to be followed in applying for approval of a pilot program. The Board may condition approval of a program on compliance with this section and rules adopted under this section.

Return to Table of Contents

---

Sec. 301.1606. Pilot Programs on Nurse Reporting Systems.

(a) The Board may solicit proposals for pilot programs designed to evaluate the efficacy and effect on protection of the public of reporting systems designed to encourage identification of system errors.

(c) The Board may require that the entity conducting a pilot program under this section reimburse the board for the cost of monitoring and evaluating the pilot program.

(d) The Board may contract with a third party to perform the monitoring and evaluation.

(e) The Board may limit the number of pilot programs that it approves under this section.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1607. Pilot Program on Deferral of Final Disciplinary Action.

[Repealed by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.161. Enforcement.

(c) The Attorney General shall provide legal assistance necessary to enforce this chapter. This subsection does not relieve a local prosecuting officer of any duty under the law.

(d) The Board may establish a criminal investigations unit to investigate suspected criminal acts relating to the practice of nursing as authorized by this chapter.

(e) The Board may assist federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the practice of nursing.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.1615. Obtaining Criminal History Record Information; Hearing.

(a) In addition to the information to which the board is entitled under Section 411.125, Government Code, the Board may request and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as provided by Section 411.087, Government Code.

(c) If, on the basis of criminal history record information obtained by the Board, the board proposes to deny an application for a license, refuse to renew a license, or suspend or revoke a license or temporary permit, the applicant or license holder is entitled to a hearing under Section 301.454.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.162. Legal Counsel.

The Board may retain legal counsel to represent the Board if first:

(1) the Board requests the Attorney General to represent the Board; and

(2) the Attorney General certifies to the Board that the Attorney General cannot provide those services.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.163. Record of Proceedings; Report.

The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings under this chapter and make an annual report to the Governor.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.164. Assistance of Prosecutor.

A board member may present to a prosecuting officer a complaint relating to a violation of this chapter. The Board, through its members, officers, counsel, or agents, shall assist in the trial of a case involving an alleged violation of this chapter, subject to the control of the prosecuting officers.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.165. Annual Report.

[Repealed by Acts 2011 (S.B. 1179), 82nd Leg., eff. June 17, 2011]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.166. Use of Technology.

The board shall implement a policy requiring the board to use appropriate technological solutions to improve the board’s ability to perform its functions. The policy must ensure that the public is able to interact with the board on the Internet.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.167. Negotiated Rulemaking; Alternative Dispute Resolution.

(b) The Board’s procedures relating to alternative dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state agencies.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.168. Duties Regarding Prescriptive Authority Agreements.

The board shall in conjunction with the Texas Medical Board and the Texas Physician Assistant Board perform the functions and duties relating to prescriptive authority agreements assigned to the board in Sections 157.0512 and 157.0513.

[Added by Acts 2013 (S.B. 406), 83rd Leg., eff. Nov. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter E. Public Interest Information and Complaint Procedures

Sec. 301.201. Public Interest Information.

(a) The Board shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the Board and the procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the Board.

(b) The Board shall make the information available to the public and appropriate state agencies.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.202. Complaints.

(c) The Board shall list with its regular telephone number any toll-free telephone number established under other state law that may be called to present a complaint about a health professional.

[Subsection (b) repealed by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.203. Records and Analysis of Complaints.

(b) The Board shall make information available describing its procedures for complaint investigation and resolution.

(c) The Board shall periodically notify the parties to the complaint of the status of the complaint until final disposition unless notice would jeopardize an undercover investigation.

(d) The Board shall develop a method for analyzing the sources and types of complaints and violations and establish categories for the complaints and violations. The Board shall use the analysis to focus its information and education efforts on specific problem areas identified through the analysis.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.204. General Rules, Policies, and Procedures Regarding Complaint Investigation and Disposition.

(a) The Board shall adopt rules, policies, and procedures concerning the investigation of a complaint filed with the Board. The rules, policies, or procedures adopted under this subsection must:
        (1) distinguish between categories of complaints;
        (2) ensure that complaints are not dismissed without appropriate consideration;
        (3) require that the Board be advised of a complaint that is dismissed and that a letter be sent to the person who filed
        the complaint explaining the action taken on the dismissed complaint;
        (4) ensure that the person who filed the complaint has an opportunity to explain the allegations made in the complaint;
        (5) prescribe guidelines concerning the categories of complaints that require the use of a private
        investigator and the procedures for the Board to obtain the services of a private investigator; and
        (6) by rule allow appropriate employees of the board to dismiss a complaint if an investigation demonstrates that:
                (A) a violation did not occur; or
                (B) the subject of the complaint is outside the Board’s jurisdiction.

(c) The Board shall notify the parties of the projected time requirements for pursuing the complaint.

(d) The Board shall notify the parties to the complaint of any change in the schedule not later than the seventh day after the date the change is made.

(e) The Executive director of the Board shall notify the Board of a complaint that is unresolved after the time prescribed by the Board for resolving the complaint so that the Board may take necessary action on the complaint.

(f) At each public meeting of the board, the executive director shall report to the Board each complaint dismissed under Subsection (a)(6) since the Board’s last public meeting.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.205. Public Participation.

(a) 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 Board’s jurisdiction.

(b) The Board shall prepare and maintain a written plan that describes how a person who does not speak English can be provided reasonable access to the Board’s programs.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.206. Confidentiality of Information Collected for Emergency Relief Programs.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.207. Confidentiality of Information Provided for Licensure.

The following information that a person submits to the board for a petition for a declaratory order of eligibility for a license or for an application for an initial license or a license renewal under this chapter is confidential to the same extent information collected on a nurse as part of an investigation of a complaint is confidential under Section 301.466:

(1) information, including diagnosis and treatment, regarding a person’s physical or mental condition, intemperate use of drugs
or alcohol, or chemical dependency;

(2) information regarding a person’s criminal history; and

(3) any other information in the petition for declaratory order of eligibility.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter F. License Requirements

Sec. 301.251. License Required.

(a) A person may not practice or offer to practice professional nursing or vocational nursing in this state unless the person is licensed as provided by this chapter.

(c) This section does not apply to a person entitled to practice nursing in this state under Chapter 304.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.2511. Criminal History Record Information for License Applicants.

(a) An applicant for a registered nurse license must submit to the Board, in addition to satisfying the other requirements of this subchapter, a complete and legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by the Board, for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(b) The Board may deny a license to an applicant who does not comply with the requirement of Subsection (a). Issuance of a license by the Board is conditioned on the Board obtaining the applicant’s criminal history record information under this section.

(c) The board by rule shall develop a system for obtaining criminal history record information for a person accepted for enrollment in a nursing educational program that prepares the person for initial licensure as a registered or vocational nurse by requiring the person to submit to the board a set of fingerprints that meets the requirements of Subsection (a). The board may develop a similar system for an applicant for enrollment in a nursing educational program. The board may require payment of a fee by a person who is required to submit a set of fingerprints under this subsection.

[Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.252. License Application.

(a-1) The jurisprudence examination shall be conducted on the licensing requirements under this chapter and board rules and other laws, rules, or regulations applicable to the nursing profession in this state. The board shall adopt rules for the jurisprudence examination under Subsection (a)(3) regarding:
    (1) the development of the examination;
    (2) applicable fees;
    (3) administration of the examination;
    (4) reexamination procedures;
    (5) grading procedures; and
    (6) notice of results.

(b) The board may waive the requirement of Subsection (a)(2) for a vocational nurse applicant if the applicant provides satisfactory sworn evidence that the applicant has completed an acceptable level of education in:
    (1) a professional nursing school approved under Section 301.157(d); or
    (2) a school of professional nurse education located in another state or a foreign country.

(c) The board by rule shall determine acceptable levels of education under Subsection (b).

[Amended by Acts 2007 (H.B. 2426), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007. The requirement to pass a jurisprudence examination, as amended by this Act, applies only to an individual who applies for a license as a nurse on or after September 1, 2008.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.253. Examination.

(b) Each examination administered under this section must be prepared by a national testing service or the board. The board shall ensure that the examination is administered in various cities throughout the state.

(c) The examination shall be designed to determine the fitness of the applicant to practice professional nursing or vocational nursing.

(d) The Board shall determine the criteria that determine a passing score on the examination. The criteria may not exceed those required by the majority of the states.

(e) A written examination prepared, approved, or offered by the Board, including a standardized national examination, must be validated by an independent testing professional.

(f) The board shall develop a written refund policy regarding examination fees that:
        (1) defines the reasonable notification period and the emergencies that would qualify for a refund; and
        (2) does not conflict with any examination fee or refund policy of the testing service involved in administering the examination.

(g) The board may recommend to a national testing service selected by the board to offer examinations under this section the board’s written policy for refunding an examination fee for an applicant who:
        (1) provides advance notice of the applicant’s inability to take the examination; or
        (2) is unable to take the examination because of an emergency.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.254. Examination Results.

(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 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 notice of the examination results graded or reviewed by a national testing service will be delayed for longer than 90 days after the examination date, the Board shall notify each examinee of the reason for the delay before the 90th day.

(c) If requested in writing by a person who fails an examination, the Board shall provide to the person an analysis of the person’s performance on the examination.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.255. Reexamination.

The Board by rule shall establish conditions under which an applicant who fails an examination may retake the examination. For an applicant who fails the examination two or more times, the Board may:

(1) require the applicant to fulfill additional educational requirements; or

(2) deny the applicant the opportunity to retake the examination.

Return to Table of Contents

---

Sec. 301.256. Issuance of License.

If the results of an examination taken under Section 301.253 or 301.255 satisfy the criteria established by the Board under that section, the Board shall issue to the applicant a license to practice professional nursing or vocational nursing in this state. The license must be signed by the Board’s Presiding Officer and the Executive Director and attested by the Board’s Seal.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.257. Declaratory Order of License Eligibility.

(b) The petition must state the basis for the person’s potential ineligibility.

(c) The Board has the same powers to investigate the petition and the person’s eligibility that it has to investigate a person applying for a license.

(d) The petitioner or the Board may amend the petition to include additional grounds for potential ineligibility at any time before a final determination is made.

(e) If the Board determines that a ground for ineligibility does not exist, instead of issuing an order, the Board shall notify the petitioner in writing of the Board’s determination on each ground of potential ineligibility. If the Board proposes to find that the petitioner is ineligible for a license, the petitioner is entitled to a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

(f) The Board’s order must set out each basis for potential ineligibility and the Board’s determination as to eligibility. In the absence of new evidence known to but not disclosed by the petitioner or not reasonably available to the Board at the time the order is issued, the Board’s ruling on the petition determines the person’s eligibility with respect to the grounds for potential ineligibility set out in the written notice or order.

(g) The Board may require an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled in an educational program preparing a student for initial licensure as a registered nurse or vocational nurse to submit information to the Board to permit the Board to determine whether the person is aware of the conditions that may disqualify the person from licensure as a registered nurse or vocational nurse on graduation and of the person’s right to petition the Board for a declaratory order under this section. Instead of requiring the person to submit the information, the Board may require the educational program to collect and submit the information on each person accepted for enrollment or enrolled in the program.

(h) The information required under Subsection (g) must be submitted in a form approved by the Board.

(i) If, as a result of information provided under Subsection (g), the Board determines that a person may not be eligible for a license on graduation, the Board shall notify the educational program of its determination.

(k) The board shall make a determination of license eligibility under Subsection (j) not later than the 120th day after the date the person submits the required documents to the board under that subsection.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 80th Leg., eff. June 1, 2009. Subsections (j) and (k) added by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.258. Temporary Permit.

(a) Pending the results of a licensing examination, the Board may issue to an applicant who is a graduate of an approved educational program a permit to practice professional nursing under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or to practice vocational nursing under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or vocational nurse.

(b) The Board may not issue a permit under this section to an applicant who has previously failed an examination administered by the Board or another state.

(c) A permit issued under Subsection (a) expires on the date of receipt of:
        (1) a permanent license; or
        (2) a notice from the Board that the permit holder has failed the examination.

(d) The Board may issue a temporary permit to practice professional nursing or vocational nursing for the limited purpose of allowing a nurse to satisfy a requirement imposed by the Board necessary for:
        (1) renewal of an expired license;
        (2) reactivation of an inactive license; or
        (3) reissuance of a suspended, revoked, or surrendered license.

(f) A person who holds a temporary permit issued under this section is considered to be a licensed registered nurse or vocational nurse for all purposes except to the extent of any stipulation or limitation on practice imposed by the Board as a condition of issuing the permit.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.259. Reciprocal License by Endorsement for Certain Foreign Applicants.

On payment of a fee established by the Board, the Board may issue a license to practice as a registered nurse or vocational nurse in this state by endorsement without examination to an applicant who holds a registration certificate as a registered nurse or vocational nurse, as applicable, issued by a territory or possession of the United States or a foreign country if the Board determines that the issuing agency of the territory or possession of the United States or foreign country required in its examination the same general degree of fitness required by this state.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.260. Temporary License by Endorsement.

(a) An applicant for a license under this chapter who is licensed as a registered nurse or vocational nurse by another state may qualify for a temporary license by endorsement to practice as a registered nurse or vocational nurse, as applicable, by submitting to the Board:
        (1) an endorsement fee as determined by the Board and a completed sworn application in the form prescribed by the Board;
        (2) evidence that the person possessed, at the time of initial licensing as a nurse, the other qualifications necessary at that time
         to have been eligible for licensing in this state; and
        (3) proof of initial licensing by examination and proof that the license and any other license issued to the applicant by another
        state have not been suspended, revoked, canceled, surrendered, or otherwise restricted.

(b) A holder of a temporary license under this section is entitled to receive a permanent license if the applicant:
        (1) verifies the applicant’s academic and professional credentials; and
        (2) satisfies any other requirement established by statute.

(c) The Board shall grant or deny an application for a permanent license not later than the 180th day after the date the Board receives all required forms or information. The Board may extend that deadline to allow for the receipt and tabulation of examination results.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.261. Inactive Status.

(a) The Board may place on inactive status the license of a person under this chapter who is not actively engaged in the practice of professional nursing or vocational nursing if the person submits a written request to the Board in the form and manner determined by the board. The inactive status begins on the expiration date of the person’s license.

(b) The Board shall maintain a list of each person whose license is on inactive status.

(c) A person whose license is on inactive status may not perform any professional nursing or vocational nursing service or work.

(e) The board by rule shall permit a person whose license is on inactive status and who was in good standing with the board on the date the license became inactive to use, as applicable, the title “Registered Nurse Retired,” “R.N. Retired,” “Licensed Vocational Nurse Retired,” “Vocational Nurse Retired,” “L.V.N. Retired,” or “V.N. Retired” or another appropriate title approved by the board.

[Subsection (e) amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Sec. 301.262. Special License. [Expired Sept. 1, 2013]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter G. License Renewal

Sec. 301.301. License Renewal.

(b) A person may renew an unexpired license issued under this chapter on payment to the Board of the required renewal fee before the expiration date of the license, payment to the board of any costs assessed under Section 301.461, and compliance with any other renewal requirements adopted by the Board. A person whose license has expired may not engage in activities that require a license until
the license has been renewed.

(c) A person whose license has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the license by paying to the Board the required renewal fee and a late fee in the amount considered appropriate by the board to encourage timely renewal.

(c-1) A person whose license has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year may renew the license by paying to the Board all unpaid renewal fees and a late fee that is equal to twice the amount of a late fee under Subsection (c).

(d) The Board by rule shall set a length of time beyond which an expired license may not be renewed. The Board by rule may establish additional requirements that apply to the renewal of a license that has been expired for more than one year but less than the time limit set by the Board beyond which a license may not be renewed. The person may obtain a new license by submitting to reexamination and complying with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original license.

(e) At least 30 days before the expiration of the person’s license, the Board shall send written notice of the impending license expiration to the person at the person’s last known address according to the records of the Board.

(f) A registered nurse who practices professional nursing or a vocational nurse who practices vocational nursing after the expiration of the nurse’s license is an illegal practitioner whose license may be revoked or suspended.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.3011. Criminal History Record Information Requirement for Renewal.

(a) The Board may require that an applicant for renewal of an unexpired license submit to the board, in addition to satisfying any other requirements for license renewal, a complete and legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by the board, for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information from the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(b) The Board may refuse to renew the license of a person who does not comply with the requirement of Subsection (a). Renewal of a license by the board is conditioned on the Board obtaining the person’s criminal history record information under this section.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.302. Renewal of Expired License by Out-of-State Practitioner.

(a) A person who was licensed to practice professional nursing or vocational nursing in this state, moved to another state, and is currently licensed and has been in practice in the other state for the two years preceding application may obtain a new license without examination.

(b) The person must pay to the Board a fee that is equal to the amount of the initial fee for the license and the renewal fee.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.303. Continuing Competency.

(b) The Board may not require participation in more than a total of 20 hours of continuing education in a two-year licensing period.

(c) If the Board requires participation in continuing education programs as a condition of license renewal, the Board by rule shall establish a system for the approval of programs and providers of continuing education.

(d) [Repealed by Acts 2007.]

(e) The Board may adopt other rules as necessary to implement this section.

(f) The Board may assess each program and provider under this section a fee in an amount that is reasonable and necessary to defray the costs incurred in approving programs and providers.

[Subsection (d) repealed by Acts 2007 (S.B. 993), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.304. Continuing Education in Tick-Borne Diseases.

(a) As part of the continuing education requirements under Section 301.303, a license holder whose practice includes the treatment of tick-borne diseases shall be encouraged to participate, during each two-year licensing period, in continuing education relating to the treatment of tick-borne diseases.

(b) The board shall adopt rules to identify the license holders who are encouraged to complete continuing education under Subsection (a) and establish the content of that continuing education. In adopting rules, the board shall seek input from affected parties and review relevant courses, including courses that have been approved in other states. Rules adopted under this section must provide that continuing education courses representing an appropriate spectrum of relevant medical clinical treatment relating to tick-borne diseases qualify as approved continuing education courses for license renewal.

(d) The board may adopt other rules to implement this section, including rules under Section 301.303(c) for the approval of education programs and providers.

[Added by Acts 2011 (H.B. 2975, S.B. 1360), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.305. Continuing Education in Nursing Jurisprudence and Nursing Ethics.

(a) As part of a continuing competency program under Section 301.303, a license holder shall complete at least two hours of continuing education relating to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third two-year licensing period.

(b) The board shall adopt rules implementing the requirement under Subsection (a) in accordance with the guidelines for targeted continuing education under Section 301.303(g).

(c) The board may not require a license holder to complete more than four hours of continuing education under this section.

[Added by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., applicable to licensing period that begins on or after Jan. 1, 2014. Sec. 301.305. Bioterrorism Response Component in Continuing Education expired Sept. 1, 2007.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.306. Forensic Evidence Collection Component in Continuing Education.

(b) The continuing education required under Subsection (a) must be part of a program approved under Section 301.303(c).

(c) The Board shall adopt rules to identify the license holders who are required to complete continuing education under Subsection (a) and to establish the content of that continuing education. The Board may adopt other rules to implement this section, including rules under Section 301.303(c) for the approval of education programs and providers.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.307. Continuing Education in Older Adult or Geriatric Care.

(a) As part of a continuing competency program under Section 301.303, a license holder whose practice includes older adult or geriatric populations shall complete at least two hours of continuing education relating to older adult or geriatric populations or maintain certification in an area of practice relating to older adult or geriatric populations.

(b) The board shall adopt rules implementing the requirement under Subsection (a) in accordance with the guidelines for targeted continuing education under Section 301.303(g).

(c) The board may not require a license holder to complete more than six hours of continuing education under this section.

[Added by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., applicable to licensing period that begins on or after Jan. 1, 2014.]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter H. Practice by License Holder

Sec. 301.351. Designations.

(a) A person who holds a license as a registered nurse under this chapter:
        (1) is referred to as a registered nurse; and
        (2) may use the abbreviation “R.N.”

(b) A person who holds a license as a vocational nurse under this chapter:
        (1) is referred to as a licensed vocational nurse or vocational nurse; and
        (2) may use the abbreviation “L.V.N.” or “V.N.”

(d) The Board may adopt rules establishing specifications for the insignia.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.352. Protection for Refusal to Engage in Certain Conduct.

(a) A person may not suspend, terminate, or otherwise discipline, discriminate against, or retaliate against:
        (1) a nurse who refuses to engage in an act or omission as provided by Subsection (a-1); or
        (2) a person who advises a nurse of the nurse’s rights under this section.

(a-1) A nurse may refuse to engage in an act or omission relating to patient care that would constitute grounds for reporting the nurse to the Board under Subchapter I, that constitutes a minor incident, or that violates this chapter or a board rule if the nurse notifies the person at the time of the refusal that the reason for refusing is that the act or omission:
        (1) constitutes grounds for reporting the nurse to the Board; or
        (2) is a violation of this chapter or a rule of the Board.

(b) An act by a person under Subsection (a) does not constitute a violation of this section if a nursing peer review committee under Chapter 303 determines:
        (1) that the act or omission the nurse refused to engage in was not:
                (A) conduct reportable to the board under section 301.403;
                (B) a minor incident; or
                (C) a violation of this chapter or a board rule; or
        (2) that:
                (A) the act or omission in which the nurse refused to engage was conduct reportable to the board, a minor incident,
                or a violation of this chapter or a board rule; and
                (B) the person:
                        (i) rescinds any disciplinary or discriminatory action taken against the nurse;
                        (ii) compensates the nurse for lost wages; and
                        (iii) restores to the nurse any lost benefits.

(c) A nurse’s rights under this section may not be nullified by a contract.

(d) An appropriate licensing agency may take action against a person who violates this section.

(e) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(f) A violation of this section is subject to Section 301.413.

[Subsection (e) deleted by Acts 2007 (S.B. 993), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007. Subsection (a) amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011. Subsection (b) amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.353. Supervision of Vocational Nurse.

The practice of vocational nursing must be performed under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, or dentist.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.354. Nurse First Assistants; Assisting at Surgery by Other Nurses.

(c) A health maintenance organization or an insurer, including an insurer offering a preferred provider benefit plan, may not, by contract or any other method, require a physician to use the services of a nurse first assistant.

(e) A patient or third-party insurer may not be billed separately for the services performed by a nurse described by Subsection (d).

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.355. Policies Applicable to Nurses Employed by Medical and Dental Units.

[Repealed by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.356. Refusal of Mandatory Overtime.

The refusal by a nurse to work mandatory overtime as authorized by Chapter 258, Health and Safety Code, does not constitute patient abandonment or neglect.

[Added by Acts 2009 (S.B. 476), 81st Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2009]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter I. Reporting Violations and Patient Care Concerns

Sec. 301.401. Definitions.

In this subchapter:

(2) “Minor incident” means conduct by a nurse that does not indicate that the nurse’s continued practice poses a risk of harm to a patient or another person. This term is synonymous with “minor error” or “ minor violation of this chapter or board rule.”

(3) “Nursing educational program” means an educational program that is considered approved by the Board that may lead to an initial license as a registered nurse or vocational nurse.

(4) “Nursing student” means an individual who is enrolled in a nursing educational program.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Sec. 301.4011. Good Faith Report by Nurse.

In this subchapter, a report is considered to be made in good faith if:

(1) the person reporting believed that the report was required or authorized; and

(2) there was a reasonable factual or legal basis for that belief.

[Added by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.402. Mandatory Report by Nurse.

(a) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(c) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(d) A report by a nurse under Subsection (b) must:
        (1) be written and signed; and
        (2) include the identity of the nurse or student and any additional information required by the Board.

(e) Instead of reporting to the Board under Subsection (b), a nurse may make a report required
under:
        (1) Subsection (b)(1) to a nursing peer review committee under Chapter 303; or
        (2) Subsection (b)(2) to the nursing educational program in which the student is enrolled.

(f) A person may not suspend or terminate the employment of, or otherwise discipline, discriminate against, or retaliate against, a person who:
        (1) reports in good faith under this section; or
        (2) advises a nurse of the nurse’s rights and obligations under this section.

(g) A violation of Subsection (f) is subject to Section 301.413.

[Subsections (a) and (c) repealed by Acts 2007 (S.B. 993), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007. Subsection (f) amended and Subsection (g)
added by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4025. Optional Report by Nurse.

(b) A nurse may report to the nurse’s employer or another entity at which the nurse is authorized to practice any situation that the nurse has reasonable cause to believe exposes a patient to substantial risk of harm as a result of a failure to provide patient care that conforms to minimum standards of acceptable and prevailing professional practice or to statutory, regulatory, or accreditation standards. For purposes of this subsection, an employer or entity includes an employee or agent of the employer or entity.

(d) A violation of Subsection (c) is subject to Section 301.413.

[Subsection (c) amended and Subsection (d) added by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.403. Duty of Peer Review Committee to Report.

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a nursing peer review committee operating under Chapter 303 that determines that a nurse has engaged in conduct subject to reporting shall file with the Board a written, signed report that includes:
        (1) the identity of the nurse;
        (2) a description of any corrective action taken against the nurse;
        (3) a recommendation whether the Board should take formal disciplinary action against the nurse and the basis for the recommendation;
        (4) a description of the conduct subject to reporting;
        (5) the extent to which any deficiency in care provided by the reported nurse was the result of a factor beyond the nurse’s control; and
        (6) any additional information the Board requires.

(b) A report under Subsection (a) is not required if:
        (1) the nursing peer review committee determines that the reported conduct was a minor incident that is not required to be reported
         under board rule; or
        (2) the nurse has been reported to the board for the conduct under Section 301.405.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.404. Duty of Nursing Educational Program to Report.

A nursing educational program that has reasonable cause to suspect that the ability of a nursing student to perform the services of the nursing profession would be, or would reasonably be expected to be, impaired by chemical dependency shall file with the Board a written, signed report that includes the identity of the student and any additional information the Board requires.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.405. Duty of Person Employing Nurse to Report.

(c) If a person who makes a report required under Subsection (b) is required under Section 303.0015 to establish a nursing peer review committee, the person shall submit a copy of the report to the nursing peer review committee. The nursing peer review committee shall review the conduct to determine if any deficiency in care by the reported nurse was the result of a factor beyond the nurse’s control. A nursing peer review committee that determines that there is reason to believe that the nurse’s deficiency in care was the result of a factor beyond the nurse’s control shall report the conduct to the patient safety committee at the facility where the reported conduct occurred, or if the facility does not have a patient safety committee, to the chief nursing officer.

(d) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(e) The requirement under Subsection (c) that a nursing peer review committee review the nurse and the incident does not subject a person’s administrative decision to discipline a nurse to the peer review process.

(f) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(g) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(h) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

[Subsections (d), (f), (g), and (h) repealed by Acts 2007 (S.B. 993), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.406. Duty of Certain Professional Associations and Organizations to Report.

A professional association of nurses or an organization that conducts a certification or accreditation program for nurses and that expels, decertifies, or takes any other substantive disciplinary action, as defined by the Board, against a nurse as a result of the nurse’s failure to
conform to the minimum standards of acceptable nursing practice shall report in writing to the Board the identity of the nurse and any additional information the Board requires.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.407. Duty of State Agency to Report.

(b) Unless expressly prohibited by state or federal law, a state agency that has reason to believe that a nurse has engaged in conduct subject to reporting shall report the nurse in writing to the Board or to a nursing peer review committee under Chapter 303.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.408. Duty of Liability Insurer to Report.

(a) Each insurer that provides to a nurse liability insurance that covers claims arising from providing or failing to provide nursing care shall submit to the Board the report or data required by this section at the time prescribed.

(b) The report or data must be provided for:
        (1) a complaint filed in court against a nurse that seeks damages related to the nurse’s conduct in providing or failing to provide
         nursing care; and
        (2) a settlement of a claim or lawsuit made on behalf of a nurse.

(c) Not later than the 30th day after the date the insurer receives  a complaint subject to Subsection (b), the insurer shall provide to the Board:
          (1) the name of the nurse against whom the claim is filed;
          (2) the policy number;
          (3) the policy limits;
          (4) a copy of the petition;
          (5) a copy of the answer; and
          (6) other relevant information known by the insurer, as required by the Board.

(d) Not later than the 30th day after the date of a  judgment,  dismissal, or settlement of a suit involving an insured nurse or settlement of a claim on behalf of the nurse without the filing of alawsuit, the insurer shall provide to the Board information regarding the date of the judgment, dismissal, or settlement and, if appropriate:
        (1) whether an appeal has been taken from the judgment and by which party;
        (2) the amount of the settlement or judgment against the nurse; and
        (3) other relevant information known by the insurer, as required by the Board.

(e) A nurse shall report the information required to be reported under this section if the nurse is named as a defendant in a claim arising from providing or failing to provide nursing care and the nurse:
        (1) does not carry or is not covered by liability insurance; or
        (2) is insured by a non-admitted carrier.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.409. Duty of Prosecuting Attorney to Report.

(b) A prosecuting attorney shall comply with Subsection (a) even if the conviction, adjudication, or finding is entered, withheld, or appealed under the laws of this state.

(d) The board shall prepare the form of the abstract and distribute a copy to each district attorney and county attorney in this state with appropriate instructions for preparation and filing.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.410. Report Regarding Impairment by Chemical Dependency, Mental Illness, or Diminished Mental Capacity.

(a) A person who is required to report a nurse under this subchapter because the nurse is impaired or suspected of being impaired by chemical dependency or mental illness may report to a peer assistance program approved by the Board under Chapter 467, Health and Safety Code, instead of reporting to the Board or requesting review by a nursing peer review committee.

(b) A person who is required to report a nurse under this subchapter because the nurse is impaired or suspected of being impaired by chemical dependency or diminished mental capacity must report to the board if the person believes that an impaired nurse committed a practice violation.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4105. Board Responsibility Following Report.

The board shall determine whether a nurse violated this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter for any case reported to the board in which the nurse’s ability to perform the practice of nursing was impaired or suspected of being impaired by chemical dependency or diminished mental capacity and in which the nurse is suspected of committing a practice violation. The board, in deciding whether to take disciplinary action against the nurse for a violation of this chapter or board rules, shall balance the need to protect the public and the need to ensure the impaired nurse seeks treatment.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4106. Peer Assistance Programs.

The board by rule shall develop guidelines to:

(1) outline the roles and responsibilities of the board and a peer assistance program established or approved by the board under Chapter
467, Health and Safety Code;

(2) outline the process for a peer assistance program to refer to the board complaints alleging a violation of the practice of nursing;

(3) establish requirements for successfully completing a peer assistance program and for notification of the board of the successful
completion by a nurse the board has ordered to attend or referred to the program; and

(4) establish a procedure for evaluating the success of a peer assistance program established or approved by the board under Chapter 467,
Health and Safety Code.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.411. Effect of Failure to Report.

(a) A person is not liable in a civil action for failure to file a report required by this subchapter.

(b) The appropriate state licensing agency may take action against a person regulated by the agency for a failure to report as required by this subchapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.412. Reporting Immunity.

A person who in good faith makes a report required or authorized under this subchapter, or a person who advises a nurse of the nurse’s right or obligation to report under this subchapter:

(1) is immune from civil and criminal liability that, in the absence of the immunity, might result from making the report or giving the advice; and

(2) may not be subjected to other retaliatory action as a result of making the report or giving the advice.

[Amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.413. Retaliatory Action.

(a) A person may file a counterclaim in a pending action or prove a cause of action in a subsequent suit to recover defense costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and actual and punitive damages, if:
    (1) the person is named as a defendant in a civil action or subjected to other retaliatory action as a result of:
         (A) filing a report required or authorized, or reasonably believed to be required or authorized, under this subchapter as a result of
        refusing to engage in conduct as authorized by Section 301.352;
        (B) requesting in good faith a nursing peer review committee determination under Section 303.005; or
        (C) providing advice to a person regarding:
                (i) filing a report required or authorized, or reasonably believed to be required or authorized, under this subchapter as a result
                of refusing to engage in conduct as authorized by Section 301.352; or
                (ii) requesting in good faith a nursing peer review committee determination under Section 303.005; and
        (2) the suit or retaliatory action is determined to be frivolous, unreasonable, or taken in bad faith.

(b-1) A person suspected of violating Subsection (b) may be reported to the appropriate licensing agency and, notwithstanding any other provision, that agency may impose an administrative penalty not to exceed $25,000 against the person if the agency finds a violation of Subsection (b). An administrative penalty imposed under this subsection is in addition to other penalties the agency is authorized to impose and is subject to the procedural requirements applicable to the appropriate licensing agency.

(c) A person who reports under this subchapter, refuses to engage in conduct as authorized by Section 301.352, or requests a nursing peer review committee determination under Section 303.005, or a person who advises a nurse of the nurse’s right to report under this subchapter, refuse to engage in conduct as authorized by Section 301.352, or request a nursing peer review committee determination
under Section 303.005, has a cause of action against a person who violates Subsection (b), and may recover:
         (1) the greater of:
                 (A) actual damages, including damages for mental anguish even if no other injury is shown; or
                 (B) $5,000;
        (2) exemplary damages;
        (3) court costs; and
        (4) reasonable attorney’s fees.

(d) In addition to the amount recovered under Subsection (c), a person whose employment is suspended or terminated in violation of this
section is entitled to:
    (1) reinstatement in the employee’s former position or severance pay in an amount equal to three months of the employee’s
     most recent salary; and
    (2) compensation for wages lost during the period of suspension or termination.

(e) A person who brings an action under this section has the burden of proof. It is a rebuttable presumption that the person was suspended, terminated, or otherwise disciplined, discriminated against, or retaliated against for reporting under this subchapter, for refusing to engage in conduct as authorized by Section 301.352, for requesting a peer review committee determination under Section
303.005, or for providing advice to a person regarding reporting under this subchapter, refusing to engage in conduct as authorized by Section 301.352, or requesting a peer review committee determination under Section 303.005 if:
        (1) the person was suspended, terminated, or otherwise disciplined, discriminated against, or retaliated against within 60 days after the
          date the report, refusal, or request was made or the advice was given; and
        (2) the board or a court determines that:
             (A) the report that is the subject of the cause of action was:
                    (i) authorized or required under Section 301.402, 301.4025, 301.403, 301.405,
                    301.406, 301.407, 301.408,301.409, or 301.410; and
                    (ii) made in good faith;
            (B) the request for a peer review committee determination that is the subject of the cause of action was:
                    (i) authorized under Section 303.005; and
                    (ii) made in good faith;
            (C) the refusal to engage in conduct was authorized by Section 301.352; or
            (D) the advice that is the subject of the cause of action was given in good faith.

(f) An action under this section may be brought in a district court of the county in which:
    (1) the plaintiff resides;
    (2) the plaintiff was employed by the defendant; or
    (3) the defendant conducts business.

(g) Subject to Subsection (h), a nurse employed by a hospital operated by or on behalf of a state or local governmental entity who alleges a violation of Subsection (b) may sue the state or local governmental entity for relief under this section, and the sovereign immunity of the state or local governmental entity from suit and from liability is waived for the limited purpose of allowing the nurse to maintain a lawsuit in state court to obtain that relief. Relief under this section is in addition to any other remedies a nurse may have under state or federal law as a public employee. In this subsection:
  (1) Local governmental entity,” “public employee,” and “state governmental entity” have the meanings assigned by
  Section 554.001, Government Code.
  (2) ”Hospital” has the meaning assigned by Section 241.003, Health and Safety Code, and includes a mental hospital licensed
  under Chapter 577, Health and Safety Code.

(h) Relief may be granted in a lawsuit brought under Subsection (g) for an alleged violation of Subsection(b)(1) based on a report made by a nurse under Section 301.4025(b) only if the nurse:
     (1) made the report:
        (A) in writing, which may be provided electronically; or
        (B) verbally, if authorized by the nurse’s employer or another entity at which the nurse is authorized to practice;
     (2) made the report to:
        (A) the nurse’s supervisor;
        (B) a committee authorized under state or federal law to receive reports under Section 301.4025(b); or
        (C) an individual or committee authorized by the nurse’s employer or another entity at which the nurse is authorized to practice; and
    (3) made the report not later than:
         (A) the fifth day after the date the nurse became aware of the situation if the situation involves a single incident; or
        (B) the fifth day after the date the nurse became aware of the most recent occurrence of the situation if the situation involves multiple
         incidents or a pattern of behavior.

(i) For purposes of Subsection (h), “supervisor” means an individual who has authority over the responsibilities of the nurse making the report or an individual who is in the nurse’s chain of command.

(k) A lawsuit under Subsection (g) against a state governmental entity shall be brought in a district court in Travis County or a county in which all or part of the acts or omissions giving rise to the cause of action occurred.

(l) A lawsuit under Subsection (g) against a local governmental entity shall be brought in a district court in a county in which all or part of the entity is located.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (S.B.476), 81st Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2009. Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) amended and Subsection (b-1) added by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011. Subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l) added by Acts 2013 (H.B. 581), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.414. Notice and Review of Report.

(a) The Board shall notify each nurse who is reported to the board under Section 301.402, 301.403, 301.405, 301.406, 301.407, 301.408, or 301.409 of the filing of the report unless the notification would jeopardize an active investigation.

(b) The nurse or the nurse’s authorized representative is entitled on request to review any report submitted to the Board under a section specified under Subsection (a) unless doing so would jeopardize an active investigation. The Board may not reveal the identity of the person making or signing the report.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.415. Rebuttal Statement.

(a) A nurse who is entitled to receive notice under Section 301.414 or the authorized representative of the nurse may file with the Board a statement of reasonable length containing the nurse’s rebuttal of any information in the report to the Board.

(b) The statement made under Subsection (a) must accompany the part of the report being rebutted.

(c) In investigating the report, the board shall:
    (1) review the statement made under Subsection (a); and
    (2) evaluate each reason asserted by the nurse to justify the nurse’s conduct.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.416. Investigation.

(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a report under this subchapter shall be treated as a complaint under Section 301.457.

(b) If the Board determines that the reported conduct does not indicate that the continued practice of nursing by the nurse poses a risk of harm to a client or other person, the Board, with the written consent of the nurse and the person making the report, may elect not to proceed with an investigation or to file formal charges. The Board shall:
    (1) maintain a record of the report; and
    (2) investigate the report if it receives two or more reports involving separate incidents regarding the nurse in any five-year period.

(c) The Board is not required to investigate a report filed by an insurer under Section 301.408,
but shall:
     (1) maintain a record of the report; and
     (2) investigate the report if it receives two or more reports involving separate incidents regarding the nurse in any five-year period.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.417. Confidentiality Requirements; Disclosure of Information.

(a) A report required or authorized under this subchapter and the identity of the person making the report are confidential and may not be disclosed except as provided by this section and Section 301.414.

(b) The Board may disclose the information to the same extent that the board may disclose information relating to a complaint under Section 301.466.

(c) [Repealed.]

[Subsection (c) repealed by Acts 2005 (S.B. 1000), Section 18, 79th Leg., eff. May 20, 2005.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.418. Disclosure of Charges or Disciplinary Action.

(a) This subchapter does not prevent disclosure under Section 301.466 of formal charges filed by the Board or a final disciplinary action taken by the board as a result, in whole or in part, of submission of a report under this subchapter.

(b) A report or information submitted as required or authorized by this subchapter arising out of the provision or failure to provide nursing services may not be made available in a liability action for:
    (1) discovery;
    (2) court subpoena; or
    (3) introduction into evidence.

Return to Table of Contents

---

Sec. 301.419. General Provisions Regarding Duty to Report; Minor Incidents.

(a) [Repealed by Acts 2007]

(b) The Board shall adopt rules governing reporting required under this subchapter to minimize:
    (1)unnecessary duplicative reporting; and
    (2) the reporting of a minor incident.

(c) If the Board determines that a report submitted under this subchapter is without merit, the board shall expunge the report from the nurse’s file.

(d) The Board shall inform, in the manner the board determines appropriate, nurses, facilities, agencies, and other persons of their duty to report under this subchapter.

(e) The reporting required under this subchapter does not constitute state action on behalf of the person reporting.

(f) The duty to report or any other requirement of this subchapter may not be nullified by a contract.

[Subsection (a) repealed by Acts 2007 (S.B. 993), 80th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007.]

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter J. Prohibited Practices and Disciplinary Actions

Sec. 301.451. Certain Prohibited Practices.

A person may not:

(1) sell, fraudulently obtain, or fraudulently furnish a nursing diploma, license, renewal license, or record;

(2) assist another person in selling, fraudulently obtaining, or fraudulently furnishing a nursing diploma, license, renewal license, or record;

(3) practice nursing under a diploma, license, or record that was:
    (A) obtained unlawfully or fraudulently; or
    (B) signed or issued unlawfully or under false representation; or

(4) practice nursing in a period in which the person’s license is suspended or revoked.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4515. Use of Certain Nursing Titles.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.452. Grounds for Disciplinary Action.

(a) In this section, “intemperate use” includes practicing nursing or being on duty or on call while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

(c) The Board may refuse to admit a person to a licensing examination for a ground described under Subsection (b).

(d) The Board by rule shall establish guidelines to ensure that any arrest information, in particular information on arrests in which criminal action was not proven or charges were not filed or adjudicated, that is received by the board under this section is used consistently, fairly, and only to the extent the underlying conduct relates to the practice of nursing.

[Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4521. Physical and Psychological Evaluation.

(a) In this section:
    (1) “Applicant” means:
        (A) a petitioner for a declaratory order of eligibility for a license; or
        (B) an applicant for an initial license or renewal of a license.
    (2) “Evaluation” means a physical or psychological evaluation conducted to determine a person’s fitness to practice nursing.

(b) The board may require a nurse or applicant to submit to an evaluation only if the board has probable cause tobelieve that the nurse or applicant is unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of:
        (1) physical impairment;
        (2) mental impairment; or
        (3) chemical dependency or abuse of drugs or alcohol.

(d) If the nurse or applicant refuses to submit to the evaluation, the board shall schedule a hearing on the issue of probable cause to be conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The nurse or applicant must be notified of the hearing by personal service or certified mail. The hearing is limited to the issue of whether the board had probable cause to require an evaluation. The nurse or applicant may present testimony and other evidence at the hearing to show why the nurse or applicant should not be required to submit to the evaluation. The board has the burden of proving that probable cause exists. At the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall enter an order requiring the nurse or applicant to submit to the evaluation or an order rescinding the board’s demand for an evaluation. The order may not be vacated or modified under Section 2001.058, Government Code.

(e) If a nurse or applicant refuses to submit to an evaluation after an order requiring the evaluation is entered under Subsection (d), the board may:
        (1) refuse to issue or renew a license;
        (2) suspend a license; or
        (3) issue an order limiting the license.

(f) The board may request a nurse or applicant to consent to an evaluation by a practitioner approved by the board for a reason other than a reason listed in Subsection (b). A request for an evaluation under this subsection must be in writing and state:
        (1) the reasons for the request;
        (2) the type of evaluation requested;
        (3) how the board may use the evaluation;
        (4) that the nurse or applicant may refuse to submit to an evaluation; and
        (5) the procedures for submitting an evaluation as evidence in any hearing regarding the issuance or renewal of the nurse’s or applicant’s
             license.

(g) If a nurse or applicant refuses to consent to an evaluation under Subsection (f), the nurse or applicant may not introduce an evaluation into evidence at a hearing to determine the nurse’s or applicant’s right to be issued or retain a nursing license unless the nurse or applicant:
        (1) not later than the 30th day before the date of the hearing, notifies the board that an evaluation will be introduced into evidence at
        the hearing;
        (2) provides the board the results of that evaluation;
        (3) informs the board of any other evaluations by any other practitioners; and
        (4) consents to an evaluation by a practitioner that meets board standards established under Subsection (h).

(h) The board shall establish by rule the qualifications for a licensed practitioner to conduct an evaluation under this section. The board shall maintain a list of qualified practitioners. The board may solicit qualified practitioners located throughout the state to be on the list.

(i) A nurse or applicant shall pay the costs of an evaluation conducted under this section.

(j) The results of an evaluation under this section are:
        (1) confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code; and
        (2) not subject to disclosure by discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for
         release to anyone, except that the results may be:
                 (A) introduced as evidence in a proceeding before the board or a hearing conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings
                 under this chapter;
                (B) included in the findings of fact and conclusions of law in a final board order; and
                (C) disclosed to a peer assistance program approved by the board under Chapter 467, Health and Safety Code, and to which
                the board has referred the nurse.

(k) If the board determines there is insufficient evidence to bring action against a person based on the results of any evaluation under this section, the evaluation must be expunged from the board’s records.

(l) The board shall adopt guidelines for requiring or requesting a nurse or applicant to submit to an evaluation under this section.

(m) The authority granted to the board under this section is in addition to the board’s authority to make licensing decisions under this chapter.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Subsection (j) amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.453. Disciplinary Authority of Board; Methods of Discipline.

(c) The Board may probate any penalty imposed on a nurse and may accept the voluntary surrender of a license. The Board may not reinstate a surrendered license unless it determines that the person is competent to resume practice.

(d) If the Board suspends, revokes, or accepts surrender of a license, the Board may impose conditions for reinstatement that the person must satisfy before the Board may issue an unrestricted license.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4531. Schedule of Sanctions.

(a) The Board by rule shall adopt a schedule of the disciplinary sanctions that the Board may impose under this chapter. In adopting the schedule of sanctions, the Board shall ensure that the severity of the sanction imposed is appropriate to the type of violation or conduct that is the basis for disciplinary action.

(b) In determining the appropriate disciplinary action, including the amount of any administrative penalty to assess, the Board shall consider:
         (1) whether the person:
                (A) is being disciplined for multiple violations of either this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter; or
                (B) has previously been the subject of disciplinary action by the Board and has previously complied with board rules and this chapter;
         (2) the seriousness of the violation;
         (3) the threat to public safety; and
         (4) any mitigating factors.

(c) In the case of a person described by:
        (1) Subsection (b)(1)(A), the Board shall consider taking a more severe disciplinary action, including revocation of the person’s license,
         than the disciplinary action that would be taken for a single violation; and
        (2) Subsection (b)(1)(B), the Board shall consider taking a more severe disciplinary action, including revocation of the person’s license,
         than the disciplinary action that would be taken for a person who has not previously been the subject of disciplinary action by the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4535. Required Suspension, Revocation, or Refusal of License for Certain Offenses.

(a-1) An applicant or nurse who is refused an initial license or renewal of a license or whose license is suspended under Subsection (a) is not eligible for a probationary, stipulated, or otherwise encumbered license unless the board establishes by rule criteria that would permit the issuance or renewal of the license.

(b) On final conviction or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for an offense listed in Subsection (a), the board, as appropriate, may not issue a license to an applicant, shall refuse to renew a license, or shall revoke a license.

(c) A person is not eligible for an initial license or for reinstatement or endorsement of a license to practice nursing in this state before the fifth anniversary of the date the person successfully completed and was dismissed from community supervision or parole for an offense
described by Subsection (a).

[NOTE: Section 301.4535, Occupations Code, applies only to a person who is initially convicted of an offense or placed on deferred adjudication after a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for an offense on or after September 1, 2005. A person initially convicted of an offense or placed on deferred adjudication before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the conviction or plea occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Subsection (a) amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 743), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept.1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.454. Notice and Hearing.

(a) Except in the case of a temporary suspension authorized under Section 301.455 or 301.4551 or an action taken in accordance with an agreement between the board and a license holder, the board may not take any disciplinary action relating to a license unless:
    (1) the board has served notice to the license holder of the facts or conduct alleged to warrant the intended action; and
    (2) the license holder has been given an opportunity, in writing or through an informal meeting, to show compliance with all
     requirements of law for the retention of the license.

(b) If an informal meeting is held, a board member, staff member, or board representative who attends the meeting is considered to have participated in the hearing of the case for the purposes of ex parte communications under Section 2001.061, Government Code.

(d) The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall use the schedule of sanctions adopted by the Board for any sanction imposed as the result of a hearing conducted by that office.

[Subsection (a) amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.455. Temporary License Suspension or Restriction.

[Subsection (c) amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.4551. Temporary License Suspension for Drug or Alcohol Use.

(b) For the purposes of Section 301.455(c), proof of the elements required for the board to suspend a license under this section is proof that probable cause of a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare exists.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.456. Evidence.

A certified copy of the order of the denial, suspension, or revocation or other action under Section 301.452(b)(8) is conclusive evidence of that action.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.457. Complaint and Investigation.

(a) The Board or any person may initiate a proceeding under this subchapter by filing with the Board a complaint against a nurse. The complaint must be in writing and signed by the complainant.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the Board or a person authorized by the board shall conduct each investigation. Each complaint against a nurse that requires a determination of nursing competency shall be reviewed by a board member, consultant, or employee with a nursing background the Board considers sufficient.

(c) On the filing of a complaint, the board:
    (1) may conduct a preliminary investigation into the identity of the nurse named or described in the complaint;
    (2) shall make a timely and appropriate preliminary investigation of the complaint; and
    (3) may issue a warning or reprimand to the nurse.

(f) In making a determination under Subsection (e), the board shall review the evidence to determine the extent to which a deficiency in care by the registered nurse was the result of deficiencies in the registered nurse’s judgment, knowledge, training, or skill rather than other factors beyond the nurse’s control. A determination that a deficiency in care is attributable to a registered nurse must be based on the extent to which the registered nurse’s conduct was the result of a deficiency in the registered nurse’s judgment, knowledge, training, or skill.

(g) If the board determines after investigating a complaint under Subsection (e) that there is reason to believe that a nurse’s deficiency in care was the result of a factor beyond the nurse’s control, the board shall report that determination to the patient safety committee at the facility where the nurse’s deficiency in care occurred, or if the facility does not have a patient safety committee, to the chief nursing officer.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.458. Initiation of Formal Charges; Discovery.

(c) A copy of the formal charge shall be served on the nurse or the nurse’s counsel of record.

(d) The Board shall adopt reasonable rules to promote discovery by each party to a contested case.

[Subsection (a) amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.459. Formal Hearing.

(a) The Board by rule shall adopt procedures under Chapter 2001, Government Code, governing formal disposition of a contested case. The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct a formal hearing.

(b) In any hearing under this section, a nurse is entitled to appear in person or by counsel.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.460. Access to Information.

(a) Except for good cause shown for delay and subject to any other privilege or restriction set forth by statute, rule, or legal precedent, the Board shall, not later than the 30th day after the date the board receives a written request from a license holder who is the subject of a formal charge filed under Section 301.458 or from the license holder’s counsel of record, provide the license holder with access to:
    (1) all known exculpatory information in the Board’s possession; and
    (2) information in the Board’s possession that the board intends to offer into evidence in presenting its case in chief at the contested
    hearing on the complaint.

(b) The Board is not required to provide:
    (1) Board investigative reports or investigative memoranda;
    (2) the identity of non-testifying complainants;
    (3) attorney-client communications;
    (4) attorney work product; or
    (5) other materials covered by a privilege as recognized by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or the Texas Rules of Evidence.

(c) The provision of information under Subsection (a) does not constitute a waiver of privilege or confidentiality under this chapter or other applicable law.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.461. Assessment of Costs.

The Board may assess a person who is found to have violated this chapter the administrative costs of conducting a hearing to determine the violation.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.462. Voluntary Surrender of License.

The Board may revoke a nurse’s license without formal charges, notice, or opportunity of hearing if the nurse voluntarily surrenders the nurse’s license to the Board and executes a sworn statement that the nurse does not desire to be licensed.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.463. Agreed Disposition.

(b) An agreed disposition of a complaint is considered to be a disciplinary order for purposes of reporting under this chapter and an administrative hearing and proceeding by a state or federal regulatory agency regarding the practice of nursing.

(c) An agreed order is a public record.

(d) In civil or criminal litigation an agreed disposition is a settlement agreement under Rule 408, Texas Rules of Evidence.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.464. Informal Proceedings.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.465. Subpoenas; Request for Information.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 2001.089, Government Code, the Board may request issuance of a subpoena to be served in any manner authorized by law, including personal service by a board investigator or by certified mail.

(b) Each person shall respond promptly and fully to a request for information by the board or to a subpoena issued by the Board. A request or subpoena may not be refused, denied, or resisted unless the request or subpoena calls for information within the attorney-client privilege. No other privilege applies to a board proceeding.

(c) The Board may pay a reasonable fee for photocopies subpoenaed at the Board’s request. The amount paid may not exceed the amount the Board charges for copies of its records.

(d) The Board shall protect, to the extent possible, the identity of each patient named in information received by the Board.

[Subsection (a) amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.466. Confidentiality.

(c) The filing of formal charges against a nurse by the Board, 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.

[Subsection (a) amended and Subsection (d) added by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.467. Reinstatement.

(a) On application, the Board may reinstate a license to practice nursing to a person whose license has been revoked, suspended, or surrendered.

(c) If the Board denies an application for reinstatement, it may set a reasonable waiting period before the applicant may reapply for reinstatement.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.468. Probation.

(b) At the time the probation is granted, the Board shall establish the term of the probationary period.

(d) Notice under Subsection (c) is sufficient if sent by registered or certified mail to the affected person at the person’s most recent address as shown in the Board’s records.

(e) A hearing under this section is limited to a determination of whether the person violated the terms of the probation order under Subsection (a) and whether the board should:
    (1) continue, rescind, or modify the terms of probation, including imposing an administrative penalty; or
    (2) enter an order denying, suspending, or revoking the person’s license.

(f) If one of the conditions of probation is the prohibition of using alcohol or a drug or participation in a peer assistance program, violation of that condition is established by:
    (1) a positive drug or alcohol test result;
    (2) refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test as required by the board; or
    (3) a letter of noncompliance from the peer assistance program.

[Amended by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.469. Notice of Final Action.

If the Board takes a final disciplinary action, including a warning or reprimand, against a nurse under this subchapter, the Board shall immediately send a copy of the Board’s final order to the nurse and to the last known employer of the nurse.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.470. Refund.

(a) Subject to Subsection (b), the board may order a license holder to pay a refund to a consumer as provided in an agreement resulting from an informal settlement conference instead of or in addition to imposing an administrative penalty under this chapter.

(b) The amount of a refund ordered as provided in an agreement resulting from an informal settlement conference may not exceed the amount the consumer paid to a nurse for a service regulated by this chapter or the actual amount stolen or defrauded from a patient by the nurse. The board may not require payment of other damages or estimate harm in a refund order.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.471. Emergency Cease and Desist Order.

(a) If it appears to the board that a person who is not licensed under this chapter is violating this chapter, a rule adopted under this chapter, or another state statute or rule relating to the practice of professional nursing or vocational nursing and the board determines that the unauthorized activity constitutes a clear, imminent, or continuing threat to the public health and safety, the board may:
    (1) issue an emergency cease and desist order prohibiting the person from engaging in the activity; and
    (2) report the activity to a local law enforcement agency or the attorney general for prosecution.

(b) An order issued under Subsection (a) must:
    (1) be delivered on issuance to the person affected by the order by personal delivery or registered or certified mail,
    return receipt requested, to the person’s last known address;
    (2) state the acts or practices alleged to be an unauthorized activity and require the person immediately to cease and
     desist from the unauthorized activity; and
    (3) contain a notice that a request for hearing may be filed under this section.

(c) Unless the person against whom the emergency cease and desist order is directed requests a board hearing in writing before the 11th day after the date it is served on the person, the order is final and nonappealable as to that person. A request for a board hearing must:
    (1) be in writing and directed to the board; and
    (2) state the grounds for the request to set aside or modify the order.

(d) On receiving a request for a hearing, the board shall serve notice of the time and place of the hearing by personal delivery or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The hearing must be held not later than the 10th day after the date the board receives the request for a hearing unless the parties agree to a later hearing date. A hearing under this subsection is subject to Chapter 2001, Government Code.

(e) After the hearing, the board shall affirm, modify, or set aside wholly or partly the emergency cease and desist order. An order affirming or modifying the emergency cease and desist order is immediately final for purposes of enforcement and appeal.

(f) An order under this section continues in effect unless the order is stayed by the board. The board may impose any condition before granting a stay of the order.

(g) The board may release to the public a final cease and desist order issued under this section or information regarding the existence of the order if the board determines that the release would enhance the effective enforcement of the order or will serve the public interest.

(h) A violation of an order issued under this section constitutes grounds for imposing an administrative penalty under this chapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter K. Administrative Penalty

Sec. 301.501. Imposition of Penalty.

The Board may impose an administrative penalty on a person licensed or regulated under this chapter who violates this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.502. Amount of Penalty.

(a) The amount of the administrative penalty may not exceed $5,000 for each violation. Each day a violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty.

(b) The amount of the penalty shall be based on:
    (1) the seriousness of the violation, including:
        (A) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of any prohibited acts; and
        (B) the hazard or potential hazard created to the health, safety, or economic welfare of the public;
    (2) the economic harm to property or the environment caused by the violation;
    (3) the history of previous violations;
    (4) the amount necessary to deter a future violation;
    (5) efforts made to correct the violation; and
    (6) any other matter that justice may require.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.503. Report and Notice of Violation and Penalty.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.504. Penalty to be Paid or Hearing Requested.

(a) Not later than the 20th day after the date the person receives the notice, the person may:
    (1) accept the Executive Director’s determination and recommended administrative penalty in writing; or
    (2) make a written request for a hearing on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.

(b) If the person accepts the Executive Director’s determination and recommended penalty, the board by order shall approve the determination and impose the recommended penalty.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.505. Hearing.

(a) If the person requests a hearing or fails to respond in a timely manner to the notice, the Executive Director shall set a hearing and give notice of the hearing to the person.

(b) An administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall hold the hearing.

(c) The administrative law judge shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and promptly issue to the board a proposal for decision as to the occurrence of the violation and the amount of any proposed administrative penalty.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.506. Decision by Board.

(b) The notice of the Board’s order given to the person under Chapter 2001, Government Code, must include a statement of the right of the person to judicial review of the order.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.507. Options Following Decision: Pay or Appeal.

(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the Board’s order becomes final, the person shall:
    (1) pay the administrative penalty;
    (2) pay the penalty and file a petition for judicial review contesting the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both; or
    (3) without paying the penalty, file a petition for judicial review contesting the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the
     penalty, or both.

(b) Within the 30-day period, a person who acts under Subsection (a)(3) may:
    (1) stay enforcement of the penalty by:
        (A) paying the penalty to the court for placement in an escrow account; or
        (B) giving to the court a supersedeas bond that is approved by the court and that:
                 (i) is for the amount of the penalty; and
                 (ii) is effective until 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) giving a copy of the affidavit to the Executive Director by certified mail.

(c) If the Executive Director receives a copy of an affidavit under Subsection (b)(2), the Executive Director may file with the court a contest to the affidavit not later than the fifth day after the date the copy is received.

(d) 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 and to give a supersedeas bond.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.508. Collection of Penalty.

If the person does not pay the penalty and the enforcement of the penalty is not stayed, the executive director may refer the matter to the Attorney General for collection of the penalty.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.509. Determination by Court.

(a) If a court sustains the determination that a violation occurred, the court may uphold or reduce the amount of the administrative penalty and order the person to pay the full or reduced penalty.

(b) If the court does not sustain the determination that a violation occurred, the court shall order that a penalty is not owed.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.510. Remittance of Penalty and Interest.

(b) The interest paid under Subsection (a)(1) is 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.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.511. Administrative Procedure.

A proceeding under this subchapter is subject to Chapter 2001, Government Code.

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter L. Other Penalties and Enforcement Provisions

Sec. 301.551. Injunction.

(a) In addition to any other action authorized by law, the Board may institute an action in its name to enjoin a violation of this chapter or a board rule.

(d) Either party to an action under Subsection (a) may appeal. The Board is not required to give an appeal bond in a cause arising under this section.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.552. Monitoring of License Holder.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.553. Civil Penalty.

(a) A person who violates Section 301.451 or Section 301.251 is liable to the state for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 a day.

(b) The civil penalty may be collected in a suit initiated by the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.554. Criminal Penalty.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates Section 301.451 or Section 301.251.

(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor, except that if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted under Subsection (a), the offense is a felony of the third degree.

(c) Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

(d) On final conviction of an offense under Subsection (a), the defendant forfeits all rights and privileges conferred by a license issued under this chapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.555. Appeal.

(a) A person against whom the Board has taken adverse action under this chapter may appeal to a district court in the county of the person’s residence or in Travis County.

(b) The Board’s decision may not be enjoined or stayed except on application to the district court after notice to the Board.

Return to Table of Contents

Subchapter M. Anesthesia in Outpatient Setting

Sec. 301.601. Definition.

In this subchapter, “outpatient setting” means a facility, clinic, center, office, or other setting that is not part of a licensed hospital or a licensed ambulatory surgical center.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.602. Rules.

(a) The Board by rule shall establish minimum standards for anesthesia services provided in an outpatient setting by a person licensed by the Board.

(b) The rules adopted under this section must be designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and must include requirements relating to:
    (1) general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and monitored anesthesia care;
    (2) patient assessment, counseling, and preparation;
    (3) patient monitoring to be performed and equipment to be used during a procedure and during post-procedure monitoring;
    (4) emergency procedures, drugs, and equipment, including education, training, and certification of personnel, as appropriate,
    and including protocols for transfers to a hospital;
    (5) the documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with this subchapter; and
    (6) the period in which protocols or procedures covered by rules of the Board shall be reviewed, updated, or amended.

(c) The Board shall cooperate with the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners in the adopting rules under this subchapter to eliminate, to the extent possible, conflicts between the rules adopted by each board.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.603. Applicability.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.604. Registration Required.

(a) The Board shall require each certified registered nurse anesthetist who provides anesthesia services in an outpatient setting to register biennially by applying to the Board on a form prescribed by the board and paying to the Board a fee in an amount established by the Board.

(b) The Board shall coordinate the registration required under this section with the license renewal requirements of Subchapter G so that the times of registration, payment, notice, and imposition of penalties for late payment are similar and provide a minimal administrative burden for the Board and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.605. Compliance With Rules.

(a) A certified registered nurse anesthetist providing anesthesia services in an outpatient setting shall comply with the rules adopted by the Board under Section 301.602.

(b) The Board may require a certified registered nurse anesthetist to submit and comply with a corrective action plan to remedy or address any current or potential deficiencies with the nurse anesthetist’s provision of anesthesia in an outpatient setting in accordance with this chapter or board rule.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.606. Inspections.

(a) The Board may conduct inspections to enforce this subchapter, including inspections of the equipment owned or leased by a certified registered nurse anesthetist and of documents of a certified registered nurse anesthetist’s practice that relate to providing anesthesia in an outpatient setting. The Board may contract with another state agency or qualified person to conduct these inspections.

(b) Unless it would jeopardize an ongoing investigation, the Board must provide notice at least five business days before the date of conducting an on-site inspection under this section.

(c) This section does not require the Board to make an on-site inspection of an outpatient setting in which a certified registered nurse anesthetist provides anesthesia.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.607. Requests for Inspection and Advisory Opinion.

(a) The Board may consider a request by a certified registered nurse anesthetist for an inspection of equipment owned or leased by the nurse anesthetist and of documents of the nurse anesthetist’s practice that relate to the provision of anesthesia in an outpatient setting. The Board, on payment of a fee set by the board, may conduct the requested inspection and issue an advisory opinion.

(b) An advisory opinion issued by the Board under this section is not binding on the board. Except as provided by Subsection (c), the board may take any action under this chapter relating to the situation addressed by the advisory opinion as the board considers appropriate.

(c) A certified registered nurse anesthetist who requests and relies on a board advisory opinion may use the opinion as mitigating evidence in an action or proceeding by the Board to impose an administrative penalty or to assess a fine under this chapter. On receipt of proof of reliance on an advisory opinion, the Board shall consider the reliance and mitigate imposition of an administrative penalty or assessment of a fine accordingly.

Subchapter N. Corrective Action Proceeding and Deferred Action

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.651. Definitions.

In this subchapter:

(1) “Corrective action” means a fine or remedial education imposed under Section 301.652.

(2) “Deferred action” means an action against a person licensed or regulated under this chapter that is deferred by the board as provided
     by this subchapter.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.652. Imposition of Corrective Action.

(a) The board may impose a corrective action on a person licensed or regulated under this chapter who violates this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter. The corrective action:
    (1) may be a fine, remedial education, or any combination of a fine or remedial education;
    (2) is not a disciplinary action under Subchapter J; and
    (3) is subject to disclosure only to the extent a complaint is subject to disclosure under Section 301.466.

(b) The board by rule shall adopt guidelines for the types of violations for which a corrective action may be imposed.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.653. Report and Notice of Violation and Corrective Action.

If the executive director determines that a person has committed a violation for which a corrective action may be imposed under the guidelines adopted under Section 301.652(b), the executive director may give written notice of the determination and recommendation for corrective action to the person subject to the corrective action. The notice may be given by certified mail. The notice must:

(1) include a brief summary of the alleged violation;

(2) state the recommended corrective action; and

(3) inform the person of the person’s options in responding to the notice.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.654. Response.

Not later than the 20th day after the date the person receives the notice under Section 301.653, the person may:

(1) accept in writing the executive director’s determination and recommended corrective action; or

(2) reject the executive director’s determination and recommended corrective action.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.655. Action Following Response.

(a) If the person accepts the executive director’s determination and satisfies the recommended corrective action, the case is closed.

(b) If the person does not accept the executive director’s determination and recommended corrective action as originally proposed or as modified by the board or fails to respond in a timely manner to the executive director’s notice as provided by Section 301.654, the executive director shall:
     (1) terminate corrective action proceedings; and
     (2) dispose of the matter as a complaint under Subchapter J.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.6555. Deferred Action.

(a) For any action or complaint for which the board proposes to impose on a person a sanction other than a reprimand or a denial, suspension, or revocation of a license, the board may:
    (1) defer the final action the board has proposed if the person conforms to conditions imposed by the board, including any
     condition the board could impose as a condition of probation under Section 301.468; and
    (2) if the person successfully meets the imposed conditions, dismiss the complaint.

(b) Except as provided by this subsection, a deferred action by the board is not confidential and is subject to disclosure in accordance with Chapter 552, Government Code. If the person successfully meets the conditions imposed by the board in deferring final action and the board dismisses the action or complaint, the deferred action of the board is confidential to the same extent as a complaint is confidential under Section 301.466.

[Added by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.656. Report to Board.

The executive director shall report periodically to the board on the corrective or deferred actions imposed under this subchapter, including:

(1) the number of actions imposed; and

(2) the types of violations for which actions were imposed.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 301.657. Effect on Acceptance of Corrective or Deferred Action.

(a) Except to the extent provided by this section, a person’s acceptance of a corrective or deferred action under this subchapter does not constitute an admission of a violation but does constitute a plea of nolo contendere.

(b) The board may treat a person’s acceptance of corrective or deferred action as an admission of a violation if the board imposes a sanction on the person for a subsequent violation of this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter.

(c) The board may consider a corrective or deferred action taken against a person to be a prior disciplinary action under this chapter when imposing a sanction on the person for a subsequent violation of this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter.

[Added by Acts 2009 (H.B. 3961), 81st Leg., eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by Acts 2013 (S.B. 1058), 83rd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2013.]

Return to Table of Contents

Chapter 303. Nursing Peer Review

Sec. 303.001. Definitions.

In this chapter:
(1) “Board” means the Texas Board of Nursing.

(2) “Nurse” means a registered nurse or a vocational nurse licensed under Chapter 301.

(3) “Nursing” has the meaning assigned by Section 301.002.

(4) “Nursing peer review committee” means a committee established under the authority of the governing body of a national, state, or
local nursing association, a school of nursing, the nursing staff of a hospital, health science center, nursing home, home health agency,
temporary nursing service, or other health care facility, or state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of conducting peer review.
The committee includes an employee or agent of the committee, including an assistant, an investigator, an intervenor, an attorney, and any
other person who serves the committee in any capacity.

(4-a) “Patient safety committee” means a committee established by an association, school, agency, health care facility, or other organization to address issues relating to patient safety, including:
        (A) the entity’s medical staff composed of individuals licensed under Subtitle B; or
        (B) a medical committee under Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code.

[Amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.0015. Required Establishment of Nursing Peer Review Committee.

(b) A person required to establish a nursing peer review committee under this section may contract with another entity to conduct the peer review for the person.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.002. General Provisions Regarding Peer Review.

(a) [Repealed.]

(c) A court may not enjoin the activities of a nursing peer review committee under this chapter.

(d) This chapter may not be nullified by a contract.

(e) The committee shall give the nurse being reviewed at least minimum due process, including notice and opportunity for a hearing.

[Subsection (a) repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 553, § 3.001.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.003. Committee Membership.

(a) A nursing peer review committee must have nurses as three-fourths of its members.

(b) A nursing peer review committee that conducts a peer review that involves the practice of vocational nursing, to the extent feasible, must include vocational nurses as members and may have only registered nurses and vocational nurses as voting members.

(c) A nursing peer review committee that conducts a peer review that involves the practice of professional nursing must have registered nurses as two-thirds of its members, and may have only registered nurses as voting members.

(d) The committee shall include to the extent feasible at least one nurse who has a working familiarity with the area of nursing practice in which the nurse being reviewed practices.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.004. Peer Review by Two Entities.

(a) A nurse who, as a temporary agency nurse, faculty member, or similar staff member, practices nursing for an educational institution, health care facility, agency, or entity, or a person other than the person who employs or directly compensates the nurse is subject to peer review by both the employer and the other person.

(b) For the purposes of exchanging information, the peer review committee reviewing the nurse’s conduct is considered to be established under the authority of both entities.

(c) The two entities may contract as to which entity will conduct peer review of the nurse.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.005. Request for Peer Review Committee Determination.

(a) In this section, “duty to a patient” means conduct required by standards of practice or professional conduct adopted by the board for nurses. The term includes administrative decisions directly affecting a nurse’s ability to comply with that duty.

(a-1) For purposes of this section, a nurse or nurse administrator acts in good faith in connection with a request made or an action taken by the nurse or nurse administrator if there is a reasonable factual or legal basis for the request or action.

(b) If a person who is required to establish a nursing peer review committee under Section 303.0015 requests a nurse to engage in conduct that the nurse believes violates a nurse’s duty to a patient, the nurse may request, on a form developed or approved by the board, a determination by a nursing peer review committee under this chapter of whether the conduct violates a nurse’s duty to a patient.

(d) If a nurse requests a peer review determination under Subsection (b) and refuses to engage in the requested conduct pending the peer review, the determination of the peer review committee shall be considered in any decision by the nurse’s employer to discipline the nurse for the refusal to engage in the requested conduct, but the determination is not binding if a nurse administrator believes in good faith that the peer review committee has incorrectly determined a nurse’s duty. This subsection does not affect the protections provided by Subsection (c)(1) or Section 301.352.

(e) If the conduct for which the peer review is requested under Subsection (b) involves the medical reasonableness of a physician’s order, the medical staff or medical director shall be requested to make a determination as to the medical reasonableness of the physician’s order, and that determination is determinative of that issue.

(f) A nurse’s rights under this section may not be nullified by a contract.

(g) An appropriate licensing agency may take action against a person who violates this section.

[Text of subsection (h) as repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 803, § 21. Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 803, § 18. Without reference to the amendment of this subsection, this subsection was repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 803, § 21(6), eff. September 1, 2007. Subsection (h) reenacted by Acts 2011 (S.B. 1303), 82nd Leg.,
eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

(h) A person may not suspend or terminate the employment of, or otherwise discipline or discriminate against, a nurse who in good faith requests a peer review determination under this section or a person who advises a nurse of the nurse’s right to request a determination or of the procedures for requesting a determination. A violation of this subsection is subject to Section 301.413.

(i) A person who is required to provide, on request, a nursing peer review committee determination under Subsection (b) shall adopt and implement a policy to inform nurses of the right to request a nursing peer review committee determination and the procedure for making a request.

[Subsection (a-1) and (i) added, Subsections (b), (d) and (h) amended, and Subsection (h) repealed by Acts 2007 (S.B. 993), 80th
Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2007. Subsection (a-1) amended by Acts 2011 (S.B. 192), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.006. Confidentiality of Peer Review Proceedings.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a nursing peer review committee proceeding is confidential and any communication made to a nursing peer review committee is privileged.

(b) A member, agent, or employee of a nursing peer review committee or a participant in a proceeding before the committee may not disclose or be required to disclose a communication made to the committee or a record or proceeding of the committee.

(c) A person who attends a nursing peer review committee proceeding may not disclose or be required to disclose:
    (1) information acquired in connection with the proceeding; or
    (2) an opinion, recommendation, or evaluation of the committee or a committee member.

(d) A nursing peer review committee member and a person who provides information to the committee may not be questioned about:
     (1) the person’s testimony before the committee; or
     (2) an opinion formed as a result of the committee proceedings.

(e) Except as permitted by this chapter, information that is confidential under this section:
    (1) is not subject to subpoena or discovery in any civil matter;
    (2) is not admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding; and
    (3) may not be introduced into evidence in a nursing liability suit arising out of the provision of or a failure to provide nursing services.

(f) If a peer review committee determines that a nurse has not engaged in conduct required to be reported to the nurse’s licensing board, a member of the peer review committee whose knowledge of the nurse’s conduct was acquired only through the peer review may not report that nurse to the licensing board for that conduct. A committee member is not prohibited from reporting:
    (1) the nurse, if the member has knowledge of the nurse’s conduct independently of peer review; or
    (2) the peer review committee to the licensing board, if the member believes the committee made its determination in bad faith.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.007. Disclosure of Information.

(a) A nursing peer review committee on request shall disclose written or oral communications made to the committee and the records and proceedings of the committee to:
    (1) a licensing authority of any state; or
    (2) a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal matter.

(b) A nursing peer review committee may disclose written or oral communications made to the committee and the records and proceedings of the committee to:
    (1) a licensing agency of any state;
    (2) a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal matter;
    (3) the association, school, agency, facility, or other organization under whose authority the committee is established;
    (4) another nursing peer review committee;
    (5) a peer assistance program approved by the board under Chapter 467, Health and Safety Code;
    (6) an appropriate state or federal agency or accrediting organization that accredits a health care facility or school of nursing or surveys a
    facility for quality of care; or
    (7) a person engaged in bona fide research, if all information that identifies a specific individual is deleted.

(c) If a committee discloses information under this section, the committee does not by that action waive the privilege of non-disclosure of committee information and proceedings.

(d) A peer review committee that discloses information under this section and each person who receives the information shall protect, to the extent possible, the identity of each patient.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.0075. Sharing of Information.

(a) A nursing peer review committee and a patient safety committee established by the same entity may share information.

(b) A record or determination of a patient safety committee, or a communication made to a patient safety committee, is not subject to subpoena or discovery and is not admissible in any civil or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the information has been provided to a nursing peer review committee The privileges under this subsection may be waived only through a written waiver signed
by the chair, vice chair, or secretary of the patient safety committee. This subsection does not affect the application of Section 303.007 to a nursing peer review committee.

(c) A committee that receives information from another committee shall forward any request to disclose the information to the committee that provided the information.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.008. Rebuttal Statement.

(a) If a nursing peer review committee makes an adverse finding against a nurse, the committee shall provide the nurse with a detailed description of the basis of its finding.

(b) The peer review committee shall give the nurse the opportunity to offer rebuttal information and to submit a rebuttal statement of reasonable length. Any rebuttal statement must be included with any information disclosed by the committee under Section 303.007.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.009. Retaliatory Actions.

(a) A nursing peer review committee, a person participating in peer review, or an organization named as a defendant in a civil action or subjected to other retaliatory action as a result of participation in peer review may file a counterclaim in a pending action or prove a cause of action in a subsequent suit to recover defense costs, including court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and actual and punitive damages if the suit or retaliatory action is determined to be frivolous, unreasonable, without foundation, or taken in bad faith.

(b) A nursing peer review committee member or a person participating in peer review under this chapter named as a defendant in a civil action or subjected to other retaliatory action as a result of participation in peer review may use information that is otherwise confidential under this chapter to defend the civil action or a civil action that alleges retaliation for the person’s participation in peer review.

(c) A person who discloses information under Subsection (b) does not by that action waive the privilege of non-disclosure of all other information privileged under this chapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.010. Civil Liability.

(a) A cause of action does not accrue for an act, statement, determination, or recommendation made, or act reported, without malice, in the course of peer review against:
    (1) a member, agent, or employee of a nursing peer review committee; or
    (2) a school of nursing, hospital, nursing home, home health agency, health science center, or other health care facility, the nursing staff of
    such a facility, or a nursing association or other organization.

(b) A person who, without malice, provides records, information, or assistance to a nursing peer review committee:
     (1) is not liable in a civil action based on the person’s participation or assistance in peer review; and
     (2) may not be subjected to retaliatory action as a result of that act.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.011. Evaluation by Committee.

(a) In evaluating a nurse’s conduct, the nursing peer review committee shall review the evidence to determine the extent to which a deficiency in care by the nurse was the result of deficiencies in the nurse’s judgment, knowledge, training, or skill rather than other factors beyond the nurse’s control. A determination that a deficiency in care is attributable to a nurse must be based on the extent to which the nurse’s conduct was the result of a deficiency in the nurse’s judgment, knowledge, training, or skill.

(b) The nursing peer review committee shall report a deficiency in care that the committee determines was the result of a factor beyond the nurse’s control to a patient safety committee for evaluation. The patient safety committee shall evaluate the influence of the factors on the conduct of the nurse being evaluated and on the practice of other nurses within the entity that established the committee. The committee shall report its findings to the nursing peer review committee.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 303.012. Error Classification System.

(a) The board may develop a standardized error classification system for use by a nursing peer review committee in evaluating the conduct of a nurse. The board shall make the system available to the committee at no cost.

(b) Information collected as part of an error classification system is a record of the nursing peer review committee and is confidential under Section 303.006.

(c) A nursing peer review committee may report the information collected using the error classification system to the board. The committee may not report to the board under this section information that includes the identity of an individual nurse or patient.

(d) Information the board receives under this section that contains information identifying a specific patient, nurse, or health care facility, the committee, or the sponsoring organization of the committee is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. The board must remove the identifying information from the information before making the remaining information available to the public.

(e) This section does not affect the obligation or authority of a nursing peer review committee to disclose information under Section 303.007.

[Added by Acts 2011 (S.B. 193), 82nd Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2011.]

Return to Table of Contents

Chapter 304. Nurse Licensure Compact

Sec. 304.001. Nurse Licensure Compact.

The Nurse Licensure Compact is enacted and entered into with all other jurisdictions that legally join in the compact, which is as follows:

Nurse Licensure Compact

Article 1. Findings and Declaration of Purpose.

(b) The general purposes of this compact are to:
    (1) facilitate the states’ responsibilities to protect the public’s health and safety;
    (2) ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse licensing and regulation;
    (3) facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas of nurse regulation, investigation and adverse action;
    (4) promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each jurisdiction; and
    (5) invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the patient
    is located at the time care is provided through the mutual recognition of party state licenses.

Return to Table of Contents

Article 2. Definitions.

In this compact:

(a) “Adverse action” means a home or remote state action.

(b) “Alternative program” means a voluntary, non-disciplinary monitoring program approved by a nurse licensing board.

(c) “Coordinated licensure information system” means an integrated process for collecting, storing, and sharing information on nurse licensing and enforcement activities related to nurse licensing laws, which is administered by a nonprofit organization composed of and controlled by state nurse licensing boards.

(d) “Current significant investigative information” means:
     (1) investigative information that a licensing board, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity for the nurse
     to respond if required by state law, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor
     infraction; or
     (2) investigative information that indicates that a nurse represents an immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether
    the nurse has been notified and had an opportunity to respond.

(e) “Home state” means the party state that is the nurse’s primary state of residence.

(f) “Home state action” means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by the home state’s laws that are imposed on a nurse by the home state’s licensing board or other authority, including actions against an individual’s license such as revocation, suspension, probation, or any other action that affects a nurse’s authorization to practice.

(g) “Licensing board” means a party state’s regulatory body responsible for issuing nurse licenses.

(i) “Nurse” means a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed vocational nurse as those terms are defined by each party state’s practice laws.

(j) “Party state” means any state that has enacted this compact.

(m) “State” means a state, territory, possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(n) “State practice laws” means a party state’s laws and regulations that govern the practice of nursing, define the scope of nursing practice, and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline. The term does not include the initial qualifications for licensing or requirements necessary to obtain and retain a license, except for qualifications or requirements of the home state.

Article 3. General Provisions and Jurisdiction.

(a) A license to practice registered nursing issued by a home state to a resident in that state will be recognized by each party state as authorizing a multistate licensing privilege to practice as a registered nurse in the party state. A license to practice licensed practical nursing or licensed vocational nursing issued by a home state to a resident in that state will be recognized by each party state as authorizing a multistate licensing privilege to practice as a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse in the party state. To obtain or retain a license, an applicant must meet the home state’s qualifications for a license and license renewal as well as all other applicable state laws.

(b) A party state may, in accordance with state due process laws, limit or revoke the multistate licensing privilege of any nurse to practice in the party state and may take any other necessary actions under the party state’s applicable laws to protect the health and safety of the party state’s citizens. If a party state takes this action, the party state shall promptly notify the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the home state of any such actions by remote states.

(c) A nurse practicing in a party state must comply with the state practice laws of the state in which the patient is located at the time care is provided. The practice of nursing includes patient care and all nursing practice defined by the party state’s practice laws. The practice of nursing will subject a nurse to the jurisdiction of the nurse licensing board, the courts, and the laws of the party state.

(d) This compact does not affect additional requirements imposed by states for advanced practice registered nursing. However, a multistate licensing privilege to practice registered nursing granted by a party state shall be recognized by another party state as a license to practice registered nursing if the state’s law requires the license as a precondition for qualifying for advanced practice registered nurse authorization.

(e) Individuals not residing in a party state may apply for a nurse license under the laws of a party state. However, the license granted to these individuals will not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice nursing in any other party state unless explicitly agreed to by that party state.

Article 4. Application for License in a Party State.

(a) Once an application for a license is submitted, the licensing board in a party state shall ascertain, through the coordinated licensure information system, whether:
    (1) the applicant has held or is the holder of a license issued by another state;
    (2) a restriction exists on the multistate licensing privilege; and
    (3) any other adverse action by any state has been taken against the license.

(b) A nurse in a party state shall hold a license that is issued by the home state in only one party state at a time.

(c) A nurse who intends to change the nurse’s primary state of residence may apply for a license in the new home state in advance of the change. However, a new license will not be issued by a party state until a nurse provides satisfactory evidence to the new home state’s licensing board of a change in the nurse’s primary state of residence.

(d) When a nurse changes the nurse’s primary state of residence by moving from:
    (1) a party state to another party state and obtains a license from the new home state, the license from the former home state is no longer
     valid;
    (2) a non-party state to a party state and obtains a license from the new home state, the individual state license issued by the
     non-party state is not affected and remains in full force if provided by the laws of the non-party state; and
    (3) a party state to a non-party state, the license issued by the prior home state converts to a state license valid only in the
     former home state and does not entitle the nurse to the multistate licensing privilege to practice in other party states.

Return to Table of Contents

Article 5. Adverse Actions.

(a) The licensing board of a remote state shall promptly report to the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system a remote state action and the factual and legal basis for the action, if known. The licensing board of a remote state shall promptly report any significant current investigative information yet to result in a remote state action. The administrator of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the home state of these reports.

(b) The licensing board of a party state shall have the authority to complete a pending investigation of a nurse who changes the nurse’s primary state of residence during the course of the investigation and to take appropriate action. The licensing board shall promptly report the conclusions of the investigations to the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system. The administrator of the coordinated licensure information system shall promptly notify the new home state of any action.

(c) A remote state may take adverse action affecting the multistate licensing privilege to practice in that party state. However, only the home state has the power to impose adverse action against the license issued by the home state.

(d) For purposes of imposing adverse action, the licensing board of the home state shall give the same priority and effect to reported conduct received from a remote state as it would to conduct occurring in the home state. In so doing, the licensing board shall apply its state laws to determine appropriate action.

(e) The home state may take adverse action based on the factual findings of the remote state only if each state follows its own procedures for imposing the adverse action.

(f) This compact does not affect a party state’s decision that participation in an alternative program may be used instead of licensing action and that the participation shall remain non-public if required by the party state’s laws. Party states must require a nurse who enters an alternative program to agree not to practice in any other party state during the term of the alternative program without prior
authorization from the other party state.

Article 6. Additional Authorities of Party State Nurse Licensing Boards.

(a) Notwithstanding any other powers, party state nurse licensing boards have the authority to:
    (1) if otherwise permitted by state law, recover from the affected nurse the costs of investigations and disposition of cases resulting from
    any adverse action taken against the nurse;
    (2) issue subpoenas for hearings and investigations that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production
     of evidence;
    (3) issue a cease and desist order to limit or revoke a nurse’s authority to practice in the state; and
    (4) adopt uniform rules as provided under Article 8(c) of this compact.

(b) A subpoena issued by a nurse licensing board in a party state for the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of evidence from another party state shall be enforced in the non-issuing party state by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the practice and procedure applicable to subpoenas issued in proceedings pending before the court. The issuing authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage, and other fees required by the service statutes of the state in which a witness or evidence is located.

Article 7. Coordinated Licensure Information System.

(a) All party states shall participate in a cooperative effort to create a coordinated database of all licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses. This system will include information on the licensing and disciplinary history of each nurse, as contributed by party states, to assist in the coordination of nurse licensing and enforcement efforts.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party states’ licensing boards shall promptly report to the coordinated licensure information system adverse actions, actions against multistate licensing privileges, any current significant investigative information yet to result in adverse action, and denials of applications and the reasons for the denials.

(c) Current significant investigative information shall be transmitted only to party state licensing boards through the coordinated licensure information system.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all party states’ licensing boards that contribute information to the coordinated licensure information system may designate information that may not be shared with non-party states or disclosed to other entities or individuals without the express permission of the contributing state.

(e) Any personally identifiable information obtained by a party state’s licensing board from the coordinated licensure information system may not be shared with non-party states or disclosed to other entities or individuals except to the extent permitted by the laws of the party state contributing the information.

(f) Information contributed to the coordinated licensure information system that is subsequently required to be expunged by the laws of the party state contributing that information shall be expunged from the coordinated licensure information system.

(g) Each compact administrator shall act jointly and in consultation with the administrator of the coordinated licensure information system to formulate necessary and proper procedures for the identification, collection, and exchange of information under this compact.

Article 8. Compact Administration and Exchange of Information.

(a) The presiding officer of the nurse licensing board of a party state or the presiding officer’s designee shall be the administrator of this compact for the state.

(b) The compact administrator of each party state shall furnish to the compact administrator of each other party state information and documents including a uniform data set of investigations, identifying information, licensing data, and disclosable alternative program participation information to facilitate the administration of this compact.

(c) Compact administrators have the authority to develop uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation of this compact. The uniform rules shall be adopted by party states under Article 6(a)(4) of this compact.

Article 9. Immunity.

A party state or an officer, employee, or agent of a party state’s nurse licensing board who acts in accordance with the provisions of this compact is not liable for any good faith act or omission that occurs while the person is performing the person’s duties under this compact. Good faith in this article does not include wilful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.

Article 10. Effective Date, Withdrawal, and Amendment.

(a) This compact enters into force and takes effect for a state when the state enacts this compact as law. A party state may withdraw from the compact by enacting a statute repealing the compact, but a withdrawal takes effect six months after the date the withdrawing state gives notice of the withdrawal to the executive heads of all other party states.

(b) No withdrawal shall affect the validity or applicability by the licensing boards of states remaining party to the compact of any report of adverse action occurring prior to the withdrawal.

(c) This compact does not invalidate or prevent any nurse licensing agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a party state and a non-party state that is made in accordance with the other provisions of this compact.

(d) This compact may be amended by the party states. An amendment to this compact is not effective or binding on the party states unless and until all party states enact the amendment into the law of each state.

Article 11. Construction and Severability.

(a) This compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the compact’s purposes.

(b) This compact is severable. If a phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of a party state or the United States or the applicability of this compact to a government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity and applicability of the remainder of the compact to a government, agency, person, or circumstance is not affected. If this compact is held to be contrary to the constitution of a party state, the compact remains in full force and effect for the other party states and in full force and effect for the party state affected for all severable matters.

(c) If the party states need to settle a dispute under the compact the party states may submit the issues in dispute to an arbitration panel comprised of:
    (1) an individual appointed by the compact administrator in the home state;
    (2) an individual appointed by the compact administrator in each remote state involved; and
    (3) an individual mutually agreed upon by the compact administrators of each party state involved in the dispute.

(d) The decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.002. Administration of Compact.

The Executive Director of the Texas Board of Nursing is the Nurse Licensure Compact administrator for this state.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.003. Rules.

The Texas Board of Nursing may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.004. General Provisions.

(a) The terms “nurse,” “registered nurse,” and “vocational nurse” include nurses licensed as registered nurses or vocational nurses by a state that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact.

(b) Unless the context indicates otherwise or doing so would be inconsistent with the Nurse Licensure Compact, nurses practicing in this state under a license issued by a state that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact have the same rights and obligations as imposed by the laws of this state on license holders of the Texas Board of Nursing.

(c) The Texas Board of Nursing has the authority to determine whether a right or obligation imposed on license holders applies to nurses practicing in this state under a license issued by a state that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact unless that determination is inconsistent with the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.005. Enforcement.

The Texas Board of Nursing is the state agency responsible for taking action against registered and vocational nurses practicing in this state under a license issued by a state that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact as authorized by the Nurse Licensure Compact. The action shall be taken in accordance with the same procedures for taking action against registered and vocational nurses licensed by this state.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.006. Information Maintained Under Compact.

(a) On request and payment of a reasonable fee, the Texas Board of Nursing shall provide a registered or vocational nurse licensed by this state with a copy of information regarding the nurse maintained by the coordinated licensure information system under Article 7 of the Nurse Licensure Compact.

(b) A board is not obligated to provide information not available to the board or information that is not available to the nurse under the laws of the state contributing the information to the coordinated licensure information system.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.007. Access to Practice-Related Information.

Practice-related information provided by the Texas Board of Nursing to registered or vocational nurses licensed by this state shall be made available by the board on request and at a reasonable cost to nurses practicing in this state under a license issued by a state that is a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.008. Disclosure of Personal Information.

(a) In reporting information to the coordinated licensure information system under Article 7 of the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Texas Board of Nursing may disclose personally identifiable information about the nurse, including social security number.

(b) The coordinated licensure information system may not share personally identifiable information with a state not a party to the compact unless the state agrees not to disclose that information to other persons.

Return to Table of Contents

Sec. 304.009. Withdrawal from Compact.

(a) The governor may withdraw this state from the Nurse Licensure Compact if the Texas Board of Nursing notifies the governor that a state that is party to the compact changed, after January 1, 1999, the state’s requirements for licensing a nurse and that the state’s requirements, as changed, are substantially lower than the requirements for licensing a nurse in this state.

(b) The governor may completely withdraw this state from the Nurse Licensure Compact or may limit withdrawal to the application of the compact to registered nurses or vocational nurses.

As a nurse in Texas, you have a responsibility to know and follow the Nursing Practice Act and all applicable BON Rules and Regulations relating to your nursing practice. All current BON Rules and Regulations and the Nursing Practice Act can be downloaded from the BON’s web site at www.bon.texas.gov. BON proposed rule changes appear in the agency’s quarterly newsletter, the Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin. Proposed rules, open for public comments, may be viewed in their entirety at the Secretary of State’s web site located at www.sos.state.tx.us, in the offices of the Texas Board of Nursing, or in the Texas Register Office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin, Texas.