HBA-CCH H.B. 767 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 767 By: Maxey Public Health 2/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse requires licensed chemical dependency counselors to complete continuing education training in order to maintain their 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. House Bill 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 It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 767 amends the Occupations Code to provide that the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (commission) include six hours of training during each two-year licensing period relating to HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases in continuing education for chemical dependency counselors. The bill requires the commission to recognize, prepare, or administer a training component that prepares chemical dependency counselors to provide appropriate information relating to the needs of persons with positive test results, including the importance of prevention, early intervention and treatment, and recognition of psychosocial needs. In developing the training, the commission is required to consult with the Texas Department of Health (TDH) and is authorized to consider TDH's hepatitis C training course. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.