Soliciting Patients; Offense

Sec. 102.051. SOLICITING PATIENTS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) practices the art of healing with or without the use of medicine; and (2) employs or agrees to employ, pays or promises to pay, or rewards or promises to reward or provide any benefit or commission to another for soliciting or securing a patient or patronage. (b) A person commits an offense if the person accepts or agrees to accept anything of value or any benefit or commission for soliciting or securing a patient or patronage for a person who practices the art of healing with or without the use of medicine. (c) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $200. Each violation of this section is a separate offense. (d) For purposes of this section, a person who practices the art of healing includes a masseur and an optometrist. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 527 (H.B. 4454), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2025.