BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2011

By: Buckingham

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that requirements to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) often overlap with requirements to become a licensed physician and that APRNs pursuing a license to practice medicine often have to repeat certain courses or requirements when in the process of entering medical school and also while attending medical school. S.B. 2011 seeks to address these concerns by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to collaborate with certain entities to conduct a study regarding streamlining physician licensing requirements for APRNs.

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

S.B. 2011 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to collaborate with at least one public institution of higher education, the Texas Medical Board, and the Texas Board of Nursing to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of developing a pilot program to streamline the requirements for an advanced practice registered nurse to become eligible for a license to practice medicine. The bill requires the coordinating board, not later than December 1, 2020, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over matters relating to higher education or occupational licensing a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.