(a) These rules are promulgated under the authority of the Medical Practice Act, Title 3, Subtitle B, Texas Occupations Code and the Physician Assistant Licensing Act, Chapter 204, Texas Occupations Code, to establish procedures and standards for the training, education, licensing, and discipline of persons performing as a physician assistant in this State so as to establish an orderly system of regulating the practice of a physician assistant in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public.     
      (b) The functions of the physician assistant board include but are not limited to the following:      
        (1) Establish standards for the practice of a physician assistant.       
        (2) Regulate the practice of a physician assistant through the licensure and discipline of physician assistants.       
        (3) Interpret the Physician Assistant Licensing Act and the physician assistant board Rules to ensure that physician assistants, other allied health professionals, and consumers are properly informed.       
        (4) Receive complaints and investigate possible violations of the Physician Assistant Licensing Act and the physician assistant board Rules.       
        (5) Discipline violators through appropriate legal action to enforce the Physician Assistant Licensing Act and the physician assistant board Rules.       
        (6) Provide a mechanism for public comment with regard to the Physician Assistant Licensing Act and the physician assistant board Rules.       
        (7) Review and modify the physician assistant board Rules when necessary and appropriate.       
        (8) Examine and license qualified applicants to practice as a physician assistant in Texas in a manner that ensures that applicable standards are maintained.       
        (9) Provide recommendations to the legislature concerning appropriate changes to the Physician Assistant Licensing Act to ensure that the acts are current and applicable to changing needs and practices.       
        (10) Provide public information on licensees.       
        (11) Maintain data concerning the practice of a physician assistant.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §185.1 adopted to be effective January 12, 1996, 21 TexReg 109; amended to be effective June 29, 2006, 31 TexReg 5105