|   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          AN ACT
         | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        relating to regulation of nurse aides. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 1.  Chapter 250, Health and Safety Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by adding Section 250.0035 to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 250.0035.  TRAINING REQUIREMENTS; CONTINUING  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        EDUCATION.  (a)  To be listed on the nurse aide registry, an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicant must complete a training program approved by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Department of Aging and Disability Services that includes: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  not less than 100 hours of course work as specified  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by rule; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a competency evaluation on completion of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training program. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A listing on the nurse aide registry expires on the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        second anniversary of the date of the listing. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  To renew a nurse aide's listing on the registry, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        nurse aide must complete at least 24 hours of in-service education  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        every two years, including training in geriatrics and, if  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicable, in the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Services Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.  (a)  The executive commissioner of the Health  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        implement Section 250.0035, Health and Safety Code, as added by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this Act, not later than May 1, 2013. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Section 250.0035, Health and Safety Code, as added by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this Act, applies only to an application for initial listing on the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        nurse aide registry or for renewal of a listing on the registry  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        filed on or after September 1, 2013.  An application filed before  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A person listed as a nurse aide on the nurse aide  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        registry under Chapter 250, Health and Safety Code, before  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        September 1, 2013, is entitled to continue to be included on the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        nurse aide registry without fulfilling any additional educational  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        training or evaluation requirements established by the executive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (a), Section 250.0035, Health and Safety Code, as added  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by this Act, if the person satisfies the other qualifications  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required by the executive commissioner and Chapter 250, Health and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Safety Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        * * * * * |