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.