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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report regarding shortages in certain |
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health professions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.06691 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.06691. STUDY ON SHORTAGES IN CERTAIN HEALTH |
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PROFESSIONS. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the board |
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shall conduct a study in collaboration with the Texas Health |
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Professions Resource Center, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce |
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Studies, and the Texas Demographic Center to identify statewide and |
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regional shortages in health professions, with an emphasis on |
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shortages in doctoral-level training in those health professions. |
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Using existing information to the extent possible, the board shall |
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develop an inventory of existing health science education programs |
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at institutions of higher education and private or independent |
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institutions of higher education and note the enrollment capacity |
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for each of those programs. The study must include an analysis of |
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shortages in the following health professions for which |
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doctoral-level training is offered: |
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(1) medicine, including a doctor of medicine degree |
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(M.D.) and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (D.O.); |
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(2) dentistry, including a doctor of dental surgery |
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degree (D.D.S.) and a doctor of dental medicine degree (D.M.D.); |
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(3) nursing, including a doctor of philosophy degree |
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and a doctor of nursing practice degree; |
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(4) physical therapy, including a doctor of philosophy |
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degree and a doctor of physical therapy degree; |
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(5) occupational therapy, including a doctor of |
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philosophy degree and a doctor of occupational therapy degree; |
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(6) audiology, including a doctor of philosophy degree |
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and a doctor of audiology degree; |
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(7) psychology, including a doctor of philosophy |
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degree and a doctor of psychology degree; |
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(8) pharmacy, including a doctor of philosophy degree |
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and a doctor of pharmacy degree; |
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(9) public health, including a doctor of philosophy |
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degree and a doctor of public health degree; and |
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(10) speech-language pathology, including a doctor of |
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philosophy degree and a doctor of speech-language pathology degree. |
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(b) The board shall make recommendations regarding the |
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establishment of new programs and expansion of existing programs to |
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meet the increased need for health professionals in the state, |
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including in particular the increased need for health professionals |
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with doctoral-level training who serve rural communities in this |
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state. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2023, the board shall submit |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and each legislative standing committee with |
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primary jurisdiction over higher education the results of its study |
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under this section and recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. |
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(d) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source to conduct the study, |
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prepare the report, and develop recommendations as required under |
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this section. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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