1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the establishment and operation of pilot centers for
1-3 the advancement of quality in long-term care.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 61.088 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 61.088. PILOT CENTERS FOR ADVANCEMENT OF QUALITY IN
1-8 LONG-TERM CARE. (a) The governing board of the University of
1-9 North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and the governing
1-10 board of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center each may
1-11 establish at the respective health science center a pilot center
1-12 for the advancement of quality in long-term care for the purpose
1-13 of:
1-14 (1) identifying opportunities for research, education,
1-15 and outreach programs designed to improve the quality of care in
1-16 long-term care facilities; and
1-17 (2) implementing and evaluating those research,
1-18 education, and outreach programs.
1-19 (b) Each pilot center shall:
1-20 (1) identify existing consumer-centered clinical and
1-21 quality-of-life assessment protocols and develop new such
1-22 assessment protocols;
1-23 (2) evaluate the assessment protocols described by
1-24 Subdivision (1);
1-25 (3) identify existing consumer-centered clinical and
2-1 quality-of-life care protocols and develop new such care protocols;
2-2 (4) evaluate the care protocols described by
2-3 Subdivision (3);
2-4 (5) evaluate the role of reimbursement and financial
2-5 incentives in improving the quality of care in long-term care
2-6 facilities;
2-7 (6) serve as training sites for physicians, registered
2-8 nurses, licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, long-term
2-9 care facility administrators, therapists, social workers, and
2-10 long-term care facility surveyors and investigators;
2-11 (7) evaluate the role of telecommunications technology
2-12 in improving the quality of care in long-term care facilities in
2-13 remote or underserved areas; and
2-14 (8) develop best practices that can be taught and
2-15 appropriately replicated in long-term care facilities.
2-16 (c) Each pilot center shall establish a multidisciplinary
2-17 leadership team to coordinate the activities across the pilot
2-18 centers to:
2-19 (1) establish uniformity in information and best
2-20 practices; and
2-21 (2) disseminate in conjunction with appropriate state
2-22 agencies and long-term care professional organizations:
2-23 (A) the assessment and care protocols described
2-24 by Subsections (b)(1) and (3); and
2-25 (B) informational materials regarding the
2-26 professional, organizational, and managerial capacities necessary
3-1 to advance the quality of care in long-term care facilities.
3-2 SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2002, the governing
3-3 boards establishing pilot centers under Section 61.088, Education
3-4 Code, as added by this Act, shall provide to the legislature a
3-5 joint written report on the activities conducted by the pilot
3-6 centers under that section.
3-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-8 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-9 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-10 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-11 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1100 passed the Senate on
May 1, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one present
not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on
May 26, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one present
not voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1100 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 23, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 145,
Nays 0, two present not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor