BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 280
85R2575 JG-D	By: Howard et al. (Buckingham)
	Health & Human Services
	5/12/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that workforce violence against nurses is a frequent occupational hazard, with approximately half of nurses experiencing physical violence over the course of their career. Based on its findings, the study recommended that healthcare facilities evaluate violent incidents and identify preventative measures that are facility-specific based on location, size, and the incidence of violence.

H.B. 280 seeks to alleviate the trauma of workplace violence by providing grants to hospitals and other health facilities to implement innovative approaches unique to each facility and region to reduce the severity and frequency of these occurrences. These grants would be funded using existing revenue generated from nursing license and renewal applications, an approach widely supported by the nursing community. The bill would make no change to the statutory licensing renewal surcharge limit.

H.B. 280 amends Chapter 105, Health and Safety Code, to establish a grant program within the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies with the intention of reducing verbal and physical violence against nurses in hospitals, freestanding emergency medical care facilities, nursing facilities, and home health agencies.

H.B. 280 amends current law relating to a grant program for reducing workplace violence against nurses.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 105.011, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 105, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 105.011, as follows:

Sec. 105.011. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Requires the nursing resource section established under Section 105.002 (Establishment of Center), to the extent funding is available, to administer a grant program to fund innovative approaches for reducing verbal and physical violence against nurses in hospitals, freestanding emergency medical care facilities, nursing facilities, and home health agencies.

(b) Requires the nursing resource section to require a grant recipient to submit periodic reports describing the outcome of the activities funded through the grant, including any change in the severity and frequency of verbal and physical violence against nurses.

(c) Requires the nursing advisory committee established by Section 104.0155 (Nursing Advisory Committee) to serve in an advisory capacity for the grant program.

(d) Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide administrative assistance to the nursing resource section in administering the grant program under this section.

(e) Requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (executive commissioner) to adopt rules to implement the grant program, including rules governing the submission and approval of grant requests and establishing a reporting procedure for grant recipients.

(f) Authorizes the nursing resource section to use money transferred to DSHS from the Texas Board of Nursing under Section 301.155 (Fees), Occupations Code, to fund the grants authorized by this section.

(g) Requires the nursing resource section, at least annually, to publish a report describing the grants awarded under this section, including the amount of the grant, the purpose of the grant, and the reported outcome of the approach adopted by the grant recipient.

SECTION 2. Requires the executive commissioner, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this act, to adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 105.011, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.