SRC-DPW S.B. 1377 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1377
76R7610 JMM-DBy: Shapleigh
Human Services
4/12/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas does not have a uniform training curriculum or
certification program for health promoters or "promotoras."  According to
former Comptroller John Sharp's Bordering the Future: Challenge and
Opportunity in the Texas Border Region, "having a uniform training and
certification program would enable clinics, hospitals, and patients to know
exactly what type of training promotoras have received.  This bill would
establish a training and regulation program for promotoras or persons who
serve as bilingual liaisons between health care providers and patients. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1377 sets forth guidelines for the establishment and
operation of a training, education, and regulation program for persons who
act as bilingual liaisons between health care providers and patients  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Board of Health in SECTIONS 1
and 2(b) (Section 46.003, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Title 2B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 46,
as follows: 

CHAPTER 46. TRAINING AND REGULATION OF PROMOTORAS

Sec. 46.001. DEFINITION. Defines "promotora."

Sec. 46.002. PROMOTORA TRAINING PROGRAM. Requires the Texas Department of
Health (department) to establish and operate a program designed to train
and educate persons who act as promotoras.  Requires the department to use
the uniform curriculum for training and educating promotoras developed by
the Health Education Training Centers Alliance of Texas, as a resource.
Provides that participation in a training and education program under this
section is voluntary. 

Sec. 46.003. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FROM PROMOTORAS. Requires the department
to establish and operate a certification program for promotoras.  Requires
the Texas Board of Health (board) to adopt rules that provide minimum
standards and guidelines, including participation in the training and
education program under Section 46.002, for issuance of a certificate to a
person under this section.  Prohibits the receipt of a certificate issued
under this section from being a requirement for a person to act as a
promotora. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.
Requires the department to establish the promotora training and
certification program not later than January 1, 2000.  Requires the board
to adopt rules necessary not later than December 1, 1999. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.