SRC-CTC S.B. 338 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 338 By: Madla Health & Human Services 6/8/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, it is estimated that four million Americans, or 1.8 percent of the population, are infected with Hepatitis C. It is also estimated that 350,000 Texans are infected with the virus. H.B. 1652 was passed last session and directed the Texas Department of Health to conduct studies, develop education and training materials, and establish testing sites for Hepatitis C. However, a more comprehensive approach allows Texas to address this public health issue in the long term. S.B. 338 directs the Texas Department of Health to develop a State Plan for Hepatitis C in order to respond comprehensively to Hepatitis C in this state. 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. Redesignates and amends Chapter 93, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 823, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, as Chapter 94, Health and Safety Code, as follows: CHAPTER 94. New Heading: STATE PLAN FOR HEPATITIS C; EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM Sec. 94.001. STATE PLAN FOR HEPATITIS C. Requires the Texas Department of Health (department) to develop a state plan for the prevention and treatment of Hepatitis C. Requires that the plan include strategies for prevention and treatment of specific groups of people. Requires the department to seek input from certain people and groups in formulating the plan. Requires the department to update the plan biennially and file the plan, not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, with the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. Redesignates Sections 93.001 - 93.003 as Sections 94.002 - 94.004, respectively, and amends as follows: Sec. 94.002. Authorizes the department, in developing the prevention program required by this section, to forecast the economic and clinical impacts of hepatitis C and the impact of hepatitis C on quality of life. Authorizes the department to develop the forecasts in conjunction with an academic medical center ora nonprofit institution with experience using disease management prospective modeling and simulation techniques. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 301G, Occupations Code, by adding Section 301.304, as follows: Sec. 301.304. HEPATITIS C COMPONENT IN CONTINUING EDUCATION. Requires a license holder, as part of any continuing education requirements under Section 301.303, to participate in not less than two hours of continuing education relating to hepatitis C. Provides that this section applies only to a license holder who renews a license on or after June 1, 2002. Requires the Board of Nurse Examiners to recognize, prepare, or administer a hepatitis C training component for use in continuing education for license holders under this section. Requires the training component to provide information relating to the prevention, assessment, and treatment of hepatitis C. Provides that this section expires June 1, 2004. SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective to June 1, 2002. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.