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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the scope of practice of advanced practice nurses at |
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certain sites serving medically underserved populations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 301.357 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 301.357. ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES AT CERTAIN MEDICALLY |
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UNDERSERVED SITES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Advanced practice nurse" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 301.152. |
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(2) "Limited health services" means health services |
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not requiring a medical diagnosis or the prescription of |
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therapeutic or corrective measures. The term includes |
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immunizations, well child care, tuberculosis control, wellness |
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screenings, epidemiologic investigations, and routine prenatal |
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care. |
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(3) "Site serving a medically underserved population" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 157.052. |
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(b) At a site serving a medically underserved population, an |
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advanced practice nurse may provide limited health services without |
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the delegation or supervision of a physician required by Chapter |
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157 or other law. |
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(c) To protect the public health and safety, the board shall |
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adopt rules as necessary to determine the scope of practice of an |
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advanced practice nurse under this section based on an advanced |
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practice nurse's education and experience. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2012, the Texas Board |
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of Nursing shall adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes |
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in law made by this Act. The Texas Medical Board shall cooperate |
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with the Texas Board of Nursing in the adoption of the rules to |
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eliminate, to the extent possible, conflicts between the rules |
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adopted by each board. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2012. |
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(b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |