BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 387

By: Cortez

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that, although the workers' compensation system allows advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) to treat injured workers, APRNs are not currently authorized to complete and sign work status reports, which may create unnecessary delays for patients and additional paperwork burdens for delegating physicians. H.B. 387 seeks to make the documentation process more efficient by authorizing a licensed APRN to complete and sign such a report.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 387 amends the Labor Code to authorize a treating doctor to delegate to a licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) the authority to complete and sign a work status report for purposes of workers' compensation benefits regarding an injured employee's ability to return to work. The bill makes the delegating treating doctor responsible for the acts of the APRN regarding the exercise of that authority.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.