85R12485 MM-D
 
  By: Ortega, Howard, Clardy, Button H.B. No. 3048
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study and report regarding shortages in certain
  health professions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.0669 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.0669.  STUDY ON SHORTAGES IN CERTAIN HEALTH
  PROFESSIONS. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the board
  shall conduct a study in collaboration with the Texas Health
  Professions Resource Center, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce
  Studies, and the Texas Demographic Center to identify statewide and
  regional shortages in health professions, with an emphasis on
  shortages in doctoral-level training in those health professions.
  The board shall develop an inventory of existing health science
  education programs and shall note the enrollment capacity for each
  of those programs. The study must include an analysis of shortages
  in the following health professions for which doctoral-level
  training is offered:
               (1)  medicine, including a doctor of medicine degree
  (M.D.) and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (D.O.);
               (2)  nursing, including a doctor of philosophy degree
  and a doctor of nursing practice degree;
               (3)  physical therapy, including a doctor of philosophy
  degree and a doctor of physical therapy degree;
               (4)  occupational therapy, including a doctor of
  philosophy degree and a doctor of occupational therapy degree;
               (5)  audiology, including a doctor of philosophy degree
  and a doctor of audiology degree;
               (6)  psychology, including a doctor of philosophy
  degree and a doctor of psychology degree;
               (7)  pharmacy, including a doctor of philosophy degree
  and a doctor of pharmacy degree; and
               (8)  public health, including a doctor of philosophy
  degree and a doctor of public health degree.
         (b)  The board shall make recommendations regarding the
  establishment of new programs and expansion of existing programs to
  meet the increased need for health professionals in the state,
  including in particular the increased need for health professionals
  with doctoral-level training.
         (c)  Not later than November 1, 2018, the board shall submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and each legislative standing committee with
  primary jurisdiction over higher education the results of its study
  under this section and recommendations for legislative or other
  action.
         (d)  The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
  donations from any public or private source to conduct the study,
  prepare the report, and develop recommendations as required under
  this section.
         (e)  This section expires January 1, 2019.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.