BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 630
86R9526 SOS-D	By: Rodr�guez
	Higher Education
	3/21/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Ensuring that Texas has an appropriate health care workforce to meet the needs of its ever‑increasing population is essential to ensuring that the state has a sufficient supply of health professionals prepared to provide health care services. Interested parties state a need for a comprehensive study of the number of Texas health care professionals currently pursuing training and graduate programs to assess existing and future capacity.

S.B. 630 directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to study statewide and regional shortages in health professions, especially shortages in doctoral-level training. THECB would conduct the study in collaboration with the Texas Health Professions Resource Center, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, and the Texas Demographic Center. Finally, THECB would make recommendations to establish new programs and expand existing programs as necessary to meet future needs.

As proposed, S.B. 630 amends current law relating to a study and report regarding shortages in certain health professions.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.06691, as follows:

Sec. 61.06691. STUDY ON SHORTAGES IN CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONS. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), subject to the availability of funds, to conduct a study in collaboration with the Texas Health Professions Resources 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. Requires THECB to develop an inventory of existing health science education programs and to note the enrollment capacity for each of those programs. Requires the study to 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) dentistry, including a doctor of dental surgery degree (D.D.S.) and a doctor of dental medicine degree (D.M.D.):

(3) nursing, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of nursing practice degree;

(4) physical therapy, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of physical therapy degree;

(5) occupational therapy, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of occupational therapy degree;

(6) audiology, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of audiology degree;

(7) psychology, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of psychology degree;

(8) pharmacy, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor and a doctor of pharmacy degree;

(9) public health, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of public health degree; and

(10) speech-language pathology, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of speech-language pathology degree.

(b) Requires THECB to 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) Requires THECB, not later than December 1, 2023, to 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) Authorizes THECB to 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) Provides that this section expires January 1, 2024.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.