Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Final Results of Last Sunset Review

Facility Registration

• Discontinue the unnecessary registration of chiropractic facilities.

Enforcement

• Require the board to develop an expert review process to ensure chiropractic expertise in its enforcement process and repeal unused peer review requirements.
• Prohibit the board from accepting anonymous complaints and require the board to maintain confidentiality of investigative reports, complaints, and other investigative information.
• Direct the board to develop a plan to improve its investigative process and reduce complaint resolution timeframes. (Management action – nonstatutory)
• Direct the board to prioritize investigations based on risk to the public. (Management action – nonstatutory)
• Direct the board to revise its penalty matrix to more closely align the severity of penalties with the risk a violation poses to the public. (Management action – nonstatutory)
• Direct the board to clearly define grossly unprofessional conduct. (Management action – nonstatutory)
• Direct the board to develop a more user-friendly online complaint form. (Management action – nonstatutory)

Licensing

• Require the board to conduct fingerprint-based criminal background checks of all licensure applicants and licensees.
• Remove unnecessary qualifications required of applicants for licensure.
• Authorize the board to check for disciplinary actions in other states or from other licensing boards for license applications and renewals, and to pursue any necessary enforcement action.
• Remove the limitation on the number of times an applicant can take the board’s jurisprudence exam.
• Authorize the board, by rule, to establish license terms of two or more years.
• Remove the statutory limitation currently restricting the agency’s authority to lower fees.
• Direct the board to stop requiring letters of recommendation as part the initial application process. (Management action – nonstatutory)
• Direct the board to limit and better focus its continuing education audit process. (Management action – nonstatutory)

Practice of Chiropractic

• Add the word "diagnose" to the definition of the practice of chiropractic.

Governance

• Continue the state’s regulation of chiropractors and the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners as an independent agency for 12 years.
• Update the standard across-the-board requirement related to board member training.