BILL ANALYSIS
By: Uresti
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
During the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, H.B. 952 created a pilot program to allow the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) to place a nurse practitioner at selected locations (state agency buildings and complexes specifically). The purpose of the pilot program was to establish healthcare clinics within state buildings that were easily accessible to state employees to help ERS reduce healthcare costs. The program is modeled after the healthcare clinic set up in the Capitol.
As proposed, S.B. 1761 amends the statute authorizing the pilot program by allowing a physician assistant to provide on-site health services.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill amends Chapter 671.001 of the Government Code by amending the heading to read: "NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IN STATE OFFICE COMPLEXES PILOT PROGRAM; PILOT PROGRAM."
The bill also amends the code by allowing the inclusion of a licensed physician assistant in the list of people the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) is required to make available to provide authorized on-site health services at a selected location to state employees who choose to make use of the service under a pilot program developed and implemented by ERS.
The bill also requires the board of trustees of ERS to adopt rules as required by Section 671.001, Government Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as possible after the effect of this Act.
Lastly, the bill makes conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.