C.S.H.B. 1694 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1694
By: Chavez
Public Health
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, training in the field of geriatrics is not a prerequisite for
medical school graduation. However, with a growing population of elderly
patients, geriatric training is appropriate for those health care
practitioners who, in the normal course of their professional practice,
provide health care to elderly persons.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill expressly grants additional rulemaking authority to a state
regulatory agency  in SECTION 1 (Section 107.002(b)(1), Occupations Code). 

ANALYSIS
Section 1 amends Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code by adding Chapter
107 which requires each state regulatory agency that licenses health care
practitioners who, in the normal course of their professional practice,
provide health care services to elderly persons to require its license
holders to complete training in gerontology as a precondition for
obtaining or renewing a license. 

State regulatory agencies affected by this section shall adopt rules
regarding the required gerontology training and inform its license holders
of the requirements. The Act takes effect September 1, 2003.  

EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 1694 deletes Section 107.003 and Section 107.004. Section 107.003
included language relating to the requirements that a health care
practitioner may use to satisfy the required gerontology training
requirement in Section 107.002.  Section 107.004 provided that any health
care practitioner who did not comply with the requirements adopted by the
state regulatory agency constitutes grounds for disciplinary action by
the agency against the practitioner in the manner provided under the
chapter under which the practitioner is licensed.