79R1608 MSE-D

By:  Barrientos                                                   S.B. No. 633



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a pilot program to provide health services to state 
employees in state office complexes.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K.  HEALTH SERVICES IN STATE OFFICE COMPLEXES
	Sec. 12.151.  NURSE PRACTITIONER IN STATE OFFICE COMPLEXES; 
PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  To reduce the cost of health care and increase 
the wellness and productivity of state employees, the Department of 
State Health Services shall develop and implement a pilot program 
to employ a licensed advanced practice nurse to provide authorized 
on-site health services to state employees at a selected location.
	(b)  The pilot program must provide for the following:                  
		(1)  the employment of a licensed advanced practice 
nurse, as defined by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, as a staff 
person at a state office complex;
		(2)  a licensed physician, who is employed by a state 
governmental entity for purposes other than the pilot program, to 
sponsor and review the advanced practice nurse as required by rule 
of the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services 
Commission;
		(3)  appropriate office space and equipment for the 
advanced practice nurse to provide basic medical care to employees 
at the state office complex where the nurse is located;
		(4)  professional liability insurance covering 
services provided by the advanced practice nurse to the extent the 
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission 
determines it is necessary or advisable under state law; and
		(5)  reports to the Employees Retirement System of 
Texas every six months on the status of the pilot program and the 
savings and efficiencies resulting from the program.
	(c)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human 
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary for implementation 
of this section, including rules that describe the types of on-site 
health services an advanced practice nurse is authorized to provide 
and any fees that may be charged for services provided by the 
advanced practice nurse.
	(d)  The executive commissioner may order the pilot program 
continued or expanded to cover more state office complexes only on 
finding:
		(1)  the pilot program is beneficial to the state; and                 
		(2)  continuation or expansion of the pilot program is 
economically feasible.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  Not later than October 1, 2005, the 
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission 
shall adopt rules as required by Section 12.151, Health and Safety 
Code, as added by this Act.
	(b)  Not later than January 1, 2006, the Department of State 
Health Services shall begin the pilot program at the headquarters 
of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, located on the 
Park 35 Campus in Austin, Texas.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.