BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1554 By: Nixon (Telford) 05-09-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Under current law, a nurse's aide in a facility licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, must serve at least 90 days prior to taking courses for certification as a medication aide. Personal care facilities, however, are not included in Chapter 242; therefore, a nurse's aide in such a facility must work in a nursing home before being eligible for coursework for certification. PURPOSE S.B. 1554 would require certain individuals employed by licensed personal care facilities for at least 90 days to be eligible for certification as a medication aide. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Adds Subsection (e) to Section 247.026, Health and Safety Code, to require any individual otherwise qualified, who has been employed by a licensed personal care facility for at least 90 days, to be eligible to be certified as a medication aide following the completion of the required course of study and successful completion of any required examination. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 1554 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a public hearing on May 9, 1995. The following persons testified in favor of the bill: Representative Telford, sponsor of the bill. Sid Rich, representing Texas Association of Retirement Communities. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 5 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 PNV, and 4 ABSENT.