H.B. No. 2059

AN ACT

relating to required human trafficking prevention training as a condition of registration permit or license renewal for certain health care practitioners.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Chapter 116 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 116. TRAINING COURSE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION

Sec. 116.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

(3) "Health care practitioner" means an individual who holds a license, certificate, permit, or other authorization issued under this title to engage in a health care profession and who provides direct patient care.

Sec. 116.002. REQUIRED TRAINING COURSE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. (a) A health care practitioner, other than a physician or nurse, within the time prescribed by commission rule shall successfully complete a training course approved by the executive commissioner on identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking.

(b) The executive commissioner shall:

(1) approve training courses on human trafficking prevention, including at least one course that is available without charge; and

(2) post a list of the approved training courses on the commission's Internet website.

(c) The executive commissioner shall update the list of approved training courses described by Subsection (b) as necessary and consider for approval training courses conducted by health care facilities.

Sec. 116.003. TRAINING REQUIRED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. A health care practitioner, other than a physician or nurse, shall successfully complete a training course described by Section 116.002 as a condition for renewal of a license issued to the health care practitioner under this title.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 156.060 to read as follows:

Sec. 156.060. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION. (a) A physician licensed under this subtitle who submits an application for renewal of a registration permit and who designates a direct patient care practice must complete, as part of the hours of continuing medical education required for compliance with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002.

(b) The board shall designate the human trafficking prevention course required by Subsection (a) as a medical ethics or professional responsibility course for purposes of complying with continuing medical education required by Section 156.051(a)(2).

(c) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section.

SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 301.308 to read as follows:

Sec. 301.308. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION. (a) As part of a continuing competency program under Section 301.303, a license holder who provides direct patient care shall complete a human trafficking prevention course approved by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission under Section 116.002.

(b) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section.

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall approve and post on the commission's Internet website the list of approved human trafficking prevention training courses and adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 116, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 5. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the applicable licensing agency shall provide notice to a health care practitioner of the human trafficking prevention training required under Chapter 116, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 116.002, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, a health care practitioner is not required to comply with that section before September 1, 2020.

SECTION 6. Sections 156.060 and 301.308, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply only to the renewal of a registration permit to practice medicine or the renewal of a license to practice nursing on or after September 1, 2020. The renewal of a registration permit or license before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2059 was passed by the House on May 10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 7, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2059 was passed by the Senate on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor