BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1554 By: Nixon Health and Human Services 4-27-95 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 As proposed, S.B. 1554 requires 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 grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 247.026, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (e), 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.