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.