By: Johnson  S.B. No. 1239
         (In the Senate - Filed February 27, 2019; March 7, 2019,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human
  Services; April 11, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;
  April 11, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1239 By:  Johnson
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to continuing education requirements for surgical
  technologists.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 259.002, Health and
  Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 259.002.  REQUIREMENTS FOR PRACTICING SURGICAL
  TECHNOLOGY; CONTINUING EDUCATION.
         SECTION 2.  Section 259.002, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
         (d)  A person employed by a health care facility to practice
  surgical technology under Subsection (a)(1) shall complete the
  number of hours of continuing education required to maintain
  certification by the organization that issued the surgical
  technologist certification to the person.  On the facility's
  request, the person shall submit to the facility evidence of
  completion of the continuing education.
         (e)  A person employed by a health care facility to practice
  surgical technology under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) or Subsection
  (c) shall complete every two years 30 hours of continuing education
  related to surgical technology.  On the facility's request, the
  person shall submit to the facility evidence of completion of the
  continuing education.
         (f)  A health care facility may restrict the ability of a
  person employed by the facility to practice surgical technology in
  the facility if the person fails to complete the continuing
  education required by Subsection (d) or (e). 
         SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Sections 259.002(d) and (e),
  Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, a person employed by a
  health care facility to practice surgical technology is not
  required to complete the continuing education before September 1,
  2020.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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