SRC-VRA S.B. 1549 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1549
78R9083 JRD-FBy: Nelson
Health & Human Services
3/26/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, staff at nursing home facilities are not required to receive
training relating to the care of people who suffer from dementia.  As
proposed, S.B. 1549 revises current Texas law to require certain
individuals who provide nursing services in a nursing institution to
receive annual training in caring for people with dementia. 

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.  Amends Section 242.037, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (i), as follows: 

(i)  Requires the minimum standards adopted by the Texas Board of Human
Services under this section to require that each nursing institution, as
part of an existing training program, provide each registered nurse,
licensed vocational nurse, nurse aide, and nursing assistant who provides
nursing services in the institution at least one hour of training each
year in caring for people with dementia. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that it is the intent of the legislature that Section
242.037(i), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, and rules
adopted under that subsection, not impose any training requirement that
will cause an institution regulated under Chapter 242, Health and Safety
Code, to incur additional costs.  

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.  Requires the Texas Board
of Human Services to adopt the minimum standards required by Section
242.037(i), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, in time for the
standards to take effect on January 1, 2004.