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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on nurse-to-patient ratios for critical care |
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patients in health care facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Critical care" means medical care for an |
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individual who has a life-threatening injury or illness. |
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(3) "Direct care registered nurse" means a registered |
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nurse licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing to engage in |
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professional nursing under Chapter 301, Occupations Code, who has |
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accepted a direct, hands-on patient care assignment to implement |
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medical and nursing regimens and provide related clinical |
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supervision of patient care. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the United States |
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Department of Health and Human Services, shall conduct a study to |
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evaluate the outcomes and efficacy of limiting the number of |
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patients whose severity of illness requires critical care at a |
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health care facility and who are assigned to a direct care |
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registered nurse at any given time. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2024, the commission shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a written |
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report containing the results of the study and any recommendations |
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for legislative or other action. The commission shall post the |
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report on the commission's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2023. |