78R7617 JMM-D
By: Chavez H.B. No. 1694
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to required training in gerontology for certain health
care practitioners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 107 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 107. GERONTOLOGY TRAINING
Sec. 107.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "health care
practitioner" means an individual who is licensed in this state to
provide health care services. The term includes a physician, a
registered nurse, a psychologist, a licensed professional
counselor, and any other license holder under this code who, in
providing health care services, provides therapy or counseling
services.
Sec. 107.002. REQUIRED TRAINING IN GERONTOLOGY; RULES;
NOTICE. (a) 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 shall
require its license holders to complete training in gerontology as
a condition for obtaining or renewing a license.
(b) A state regulatory agency affected by this section
shall:
(1) adopt rules regarding the required gerontology
training; and
(2) notify its license holders of the requirements
adopted under this chapter.
Sec. 107.003. CONTINUING EDUCATION. A health care
practitioner may satisfy the requirement imposed under Section
107.002 through participation in continuing education that
includes training in gerontology.
Sec. 107.004. GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. Failure by
a health care practitioner to comply with the requirements adopted
by the practitioner's 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.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and
applies only to a license that is issued or renewed on or after
January 1, 2004. A license that is issued or renewed before
January 1, 2004, is governed by the law in effect on the date the
license was issued or renewed, and the former law in continued in
effect for that purpose.