SRC-MKV H.B. 767 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 767 77R4235 DLF-DBy: Maxey (Nelson) Health & Human Services 4/24/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse requires a licensed chemical dependency counselor to complete continuing education training in order to maintain the counselor's license. Because individuals who abuse alcohol or drugs are susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, it is important for substance abuse professionals to be knowledgeable about these diseases. H.B. 767 adds training related to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases to the continuing education curriculum of chemical dependency counselors. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 504E, Occupations Code, by adding Section 504.206, as follows: Sec. 504.206. CONTINUING EDUCATION RELATING TO HIV, HEPATITIS C, AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES. (a) Requires the continuing education required under Section 504.205 to include six hours of training during each two-year licensing period relating to HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases. (b) Requires the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (commission) to recognize, prepare, or administer a training component that satisfies the requirement of Subsection (a) for use in continuing education for chemical dependency counselors. (c) Requires the training component to address HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases in the context of chemical dependency counseling and to provide information relating to the special needs of persons with positive test results, including the importance of prevention, early intervention, and treatment and recognition of psychosocial needs. Requires the training component to prepare a chemical dependency counselor to provide appropriate information to educate clients about HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases. (d) Requires the commission, in developing the training component, to consult with the Texas Department of Health and authorizes the commission, to the extent appropriate, to consider the training course relating to hepatitis C developed by the department under Section 93.003 (Training of Counselors), Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 823, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.