By Maxey H.B. No. 1515 76R2504 GJH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of a health professions task force. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. TASK FORCE; MEMBERSHIP. (a) Not later than 1-5 October 1, 1999, the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house 1-6 of representatives shall appoint 16 persons to serve on a health 1-7 professions task force. 1-8 (b) The health professions task force consists of the 1-9 following members: 1-10 (1) two members of the Health Professions Council 1-11 established under Article 4512p, Revised Statutes; 1-12 (2) two public members; 1-13 (3) two members who are experts in medical policy and 1-14 ethics issues; 1-15 (4) two members who are representatives of academic 1-16 health centers in this state; 1-17 (5) two members who are representatives of 1-18 professional medical associations; 1-19 (6) two members who are representatives of 1-20 professional nurse associations; 1-21 (7) two members who are representatives of health care 1-22 professions other than the practice of nursing or medicine; and 1-23 (8) two members who are representatives of the health 1-24 professions resource center established under Section 105.002, 2-1 Health and Safety Code. 2-2 SECTION 2. TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) In this section, 2-3 "health professions board" means a state agency that licenses, 2-4 certifies, or registers a health care practitioner. 2-5 (b) The health professions task force shall thoroughly 2-6 investigate for each health professions board: 2-7 (1) the composition of the board; 2-8 (2) the complaint and grievance procedures of the 2-9 board; 2-10 (3) the disciplinary procedures of the board; 2-11 (4) the licensing and licensing renewal requirements 2-12 of the board; 2-13 (5) board criteria for reciprocity with other 2-14 jurisdictions of each profession regulated by the board; 2-15 (6) required credentials of each profession regulated 2-16 by the board; 2-17 (7) dissemination of consumer information by the 2-18 board; and 2-19 (8) the continuing education requirements of the 2-20 board. 2-21 (c) Not later than January 1, 2000, the health professions 2-22 task force shall submit to the legislature and statewide health 2-23 coordinating council a detailed report of its findings accompanied 2-24 by recommended solutions to the major issues facing health 2-25 professions regulation. 2-26 SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires March 1, 2000. 2-27 SECTION 4. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 3-1 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-5 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-6 passage, and it is so enacted.