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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the accreditation of paramedic training programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 773, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 773.0506 and 773.0507 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 773.0506. ACCREDITATION OF PARAMEDIC TRAINING |
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PROGRAMS. (a) The department shall post on the department's |
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Internet website information related to the accreditation process |
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for a paramedic training program, including a schedule of workshops |
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and online seminars related to the accreditation process. |
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(b) In awarding local project grant funds intended for |
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paramedic training programs, the department shall give priority to |
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paramedic training programs that: |
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(1) serve a rural area of the state; |
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(2) serve an area of the state along the international |
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border; |
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(3) are financially sound but have a demonstrated need |
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for financial help to become accredited; or |
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(4) are unable to enter into a consortium agreement |
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because of geographic location. |
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Sec. 773.0507. PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM ACCREDITATION |
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STUDY. (a) The advisory council established under Section 773.012 |
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shall coordinate with the department and the Texas Department of |
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Rural Affairs to study the effect that a national accreditation |
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requirement would have on: |
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(1) private paramedic training programs; |
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(2) the availability of paramedic training programs in |
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rural areas of this state; and |
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(3) the availability of paramedics in rural areas of |
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the state and areas of the state along the international border. |
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(b) The study must evaluate the options for accrediting |
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paramedic training program providers in this state, including |
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examining the requirements in other states relating to paramedic |
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training programs. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2012, the advisory council |
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shall report to the legislature the findings of the study and the |
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council's recommendations regarding paramedic training that will |
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increase the availability of high-quality paramedic training |
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programs in urban and rural areas of this state. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |