By Shapleigh                                          S.B. No. 1051
         77R8706 JRD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the training and regulation of promotoras.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, as added by
 1-5     Section 2.01, Chapter 857, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
 1-6     Session, 1999, is amended to read as follows:
 1-7                  CHAPTER 48 [46].  TRAINING AND REGULATION
 1-8                                OF PROMOTORAS
 1-9           Sec. 48.001 [46.001].  DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this
1-10     chapter:
1-11                 (1)  "Compensation" includes receiving payment or
1-12     receiving reimbursement for expenses.
1-13                 (2)  "Promotora"[, "promotora"] means a person who,
1-14     with or without compensation, provides a bilingual liaison between
1-15     health care providers and patients through activities that include
1-16     assisting in case conferences, providing patient education, making
1-17     referrals to health and social services, conducting needs
1-18     assessments, distributing surveys to identify barriers to health
1-19     care delivery, making home visits, and providing language services.
1-20           Sec. 48.002 [46.002].  PROMOTORA TRAINING PROGRAM. (a)  The
1-21     department shall establish and operate a program designed to train
1-22     and educate persons who act as promotoras.  In establishing the
1-23     training program, the department, to the extent possible, shall:
1-24                 (1)  consider the report and any findings of and adopt
 2-1     any applicable recommendations of the Promotora Program Development
 2-2     Committee; and
 2-3                 (2)  use as a resource the uniform curriculum for
 2-4     training and educating promotoras developed by the Health Education
 2-5     Training Centers Alliance of Texas.
 2-6           (b)  Participation in a training and education program
 2-7     established under this section is voluntary for a promotora who
 2-8     provides services without receiving any compensation and mandatory
 2-9     for a promotora who provides services for compensation.
2-10           Sec. 48.003 [46.003].  CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR PROMOTORAS.
2-11     (a)  The department shall establish and operate a certification
2-12     program for persons who act as promotoras. In establishing the
2-13     program, the board shall adopt rules that provide minimum standards
2-14     and guidelines, including participation in the training and
2-15     education program under Section 48.002 [46.002], for issuance of a
2-16     certificate to a person under this section.  In adopting the
2-17     minimum standards and guidelines, the board shall consider the
2-18     report and any findings of and adopt any applicable recommendations
2-19     of the Promotora Program Development Committee.
2-20           (b)  Receipt of a certificate issued under this section may
2-21     not be a requirement for a person to act as a promotora without
2-22     receiving any compensation and is a requirement for a person to act
2-23     as a promotora for compensation.
2-24           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.