SRC-MKV S.B. 1051 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1051
By: Shapleigh
Health & Human Services
6/11/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Promotoras, or bilingual health liaisons, and community health workers play
a key role in minimizing many of the health and social services barriers
encountered by individuals living in economically distressed areas of the
state.  Although the Texas Department of Health currently operates a
promotora training and certification program, participation is on a
voluntary basis.  S.B. 1051 requires promotoras and community health
workers who receive compensation for their services to undergo training and
certification by the Texas Department of Health.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Health in
SECTION 1 (Section 48.002, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, as added by Section
2.01, Chapter 857, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, as
follows: 

 Renumbers Chapter 46 to Chapter 48.

Sec. 48.001.  New heading:  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "compensation."
"promotora,"  and "community health worker." 

Sec. 48.002.  New heading: PROMOTORA AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAINING
PROGRAM.  Adds language to require the Texas Department of Health, in
establishing the training program, to the extent possible, to consider the
report and any findings of and adopt any applicable recommendations of the
Promotora Program Development Committee.  Adds language to provide that
participation in a training and education program established under this
section is voluntary for a promotora or community health worker who
provides services without receiving any compensation and mandatory for a
promotora or community health worker who provides services for
compensation.  Authorizes the board to adopt rules to exempt a promotora or
community health worker from mandatory training who has served for three or
more years or who has 1,000 or more hours of experience.  Deletes language
requiring the department to use as a resource the uniform curriculum for
training and educating promotoras developed by the Health Education
Training Centers Alliance of Texas.  

Sec. 48.003. New heading: CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR PROMOTORAS AND
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.