Bill > SB2999

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for allowing certain psychologists to obtain prescription authority for psychotropic medications in Texas. The legislation creates a two-tiered certification process: a conditional prescription certificate and a full prescription certificate, with specific training and experience requirements for each. Psychologists seeking these certificates must complete extensive educational programs in psychopharmacology, pass a national examination, complete supervised clinical practicums, and maintain professional liability insurance. The bill establishes an advisory committee to provide recommendations on regulating prescribing psychologists, including standards of practice, continuing education requirements, and peer review procedures. Prescribing psychologists will be required to notify a patient's primary care practitioner within 72 hours of issuing or changing psychotropic medication prescriptions and must maintain detailed patient records. The legislation also amends various state codes to include psychologists in definitions related to practitioners who can prescribe controlled substances and dangerous drugs. The new prescriptive authority system will be phased in, with initial implementation beginning September 1, 2025, and full implementation by September 1, 2028, providing time for developing comprehensive training programs and regulatory mechanisms.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2999