(a) These rules are promulgated under the authority of the Medical Practice Act, Title 3, Subtitle B, Texas Occupations Code and the Respiratory Care Practitioners Act, Title 3, Subtitle K, Chapter 604, Texas Occupations Code, to establish procedures and standards for the training, education, certifying, and discipline of persons performing as a respiratory care practitioner in this state so as to establish an orderly system of regulating the practice of a respiratory care practitioner in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
(b) The functions of the Texas Board of Respiratory Care include but are not limited to the following:
  (1) Establish standards for the practice of a respiratory care practitioner.
  (2) Regulate the practice of a respiratory care practitioner through the certification and discipline of respiratory care practitioners.
  (3) Interpret the Respiratory Care Practitioners Act and the Texas Board of Respiratory Care rules to ensure that respiratory care practitioners, other allied health professionals, and consumers are properly informed.
  (4) Receive complaints and investigate possible violations of the Respiratory Care Practitioners Act and the Texas Board of Respiratory Care rules.
  (5) Discipline violators through appropriate legal action to enforce the Respiratory Care Practitioners Act and the Texas Board of Respiratory Care rules.
  (6) Provide a mechanism for public comment with regard to the Respiratory Care Practitioners Act and the Texas Board of Respiratory Care rules.
  (7) Review and modify the Texas Board of Respiratory Care rules when necessary and appropriate. All rules approved by the advisory board are to be submitted to the Medical Board for consideration in accordance with Texas Occupations Code §604.0522(b).
  (8) Examine and certify, in conjunction with the Texas Medical Board, procedures for issuing certificates, as implemented by its licensure division, to qualified applicants to practice as a respiratory care practitioner in Texas in a manner that ensures that applicable standards are maintained.
  (9) Provide recommendations to the Texas Medical Board for consideration by the legislature concerning appropriate changes to the Respiratory Care Practitioners Act to ensure that the acts are current and applicable to changing needs and practices.
  (10) Provide public information on certificate holders.
  (11) Maintain data concerning the practice of a respiratory care practitioner.

Source Note: The provisions of this §186.1 adopted to be effective April 3, 2017, 42 TexReg 1758