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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to entities that provide services to rural Texans and in |
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rural counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 58.093, Agriculture Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 58.093. AMOUNT OF GRANTS. A grant under the young |
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farmer grant program may not be less than $5,000 or more than |
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$35,000 [$20,000]. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, Subsection 12.051 |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.051. FARMER MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION |
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PROGRAM. |
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(a) The department shall establish a farmer mental health |
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and suicide prevention program to raise awareness among farmers of |
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issues relating to mental health and suicide prevention. |
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(b) As part of the program, the department shall: |
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(1) promote suicide prevention among farmers through a |
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public awareness campaign; |
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(2) provide a toll-free telephone hotline for farmer |
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mental health assistance; |
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(3) develop a mental wellness plan for farmers |
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affected by a disaster; [and] |
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(4) coordinate suicide prevention activities with |
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other state agencies, including the Department of State Health |
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Services; [.] |
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(5) identify counties where farmers reside and where |
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an inadequate number of mental health providers are located; and |
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(6) develop strategies to increase the number of |
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mental health providers located in those counties. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 48, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 48.114(d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A mentor teacher who provides services at a rural |
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campus, as defined by Section 48.112(a) shall be eligible for |
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compensation in excess of the amounts provided in Subsection (c) if |
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the district is able to fund such compensation from sources other |
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than the mentor program allotment. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter H, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 301.357 and 301.358 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 301.357. PRACTICE IN RURAL HELTHCARE AREAS BY CERTAIN |
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ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES. (a) This section and Section |
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301.358 apply to a licensed advanced practice registered nurse only |
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if 85% or more of the nurse's services are provided in a rural |
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healthcare area. |
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(b) In this section and Section 301.358: |
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(1) "advanced practice registered nurse" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 301.152(a); |
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(2) "controlled substance" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 481.002, Health and Safety Code; |
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(3) "dangerous drug" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 483.001, Health and Safety Code; |
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(4) "device" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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551.003, and includes durable medical equipment; |
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(5) "licensed rural practitioner" means a licensed |
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advanced practice registered nurse authorized by the board to |
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practice under this section and under Section 301.358 in accordance |
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with standards established and recognized by the board to protect |
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the public health and safety; and |
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(6) "nonprescription drug" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 551.003; and |
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(7) "rural healthcare area" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 12.052, Agriculture Code. |
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(c) The board shall authorize the practice under this |
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section and Section 301.358 of an advanced practice registered |
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nurse who applies in the manner the board prescribes by rule and who |
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meets the requirements for authorization. An advanced practice |
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registered nurse who applies for authorization must file an |
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affidavit with the board demonstrating that the nurse meets the |
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requirements of Subsection (a). |
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(d) The board by rule shall establish: |
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(1) standards for licensed rural practitioners to |
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protect the public health and safety; and |
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(2) guidelines for continuing education for licensed |
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rural practitioners that are not subject to the limitations of |
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Section 301.303(b). |
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(e) The scope of practice of a licensed rural practitioner |
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includes: |
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(1) ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic |
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tests; |
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(2) formulating primary and differential medical |
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diagnoses and advanced assessments; |
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(3) treating actual and potential health problems; |
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(4) prescribing therapeutic and corrective measures, |
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including nutrition and diagnostic support services, home health |
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care, hospice care, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, and |
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delegating and assigning the performance of therapeutic and |
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corrective measures to assistive personnel; |
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(5) to the extent authorized by the board under |
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Section 301.358, prescribing, ordering, procuring, administering, |
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and dispensing drugs and devices, including blood and blood |
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products, controlled substances listed in Schedules II, III, IV, |
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and V, dangerous drugs, and nonprescription drugs; |
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(6) providing referrals to health care agencies, |
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health care providers, and community resources; |
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(7) serving as the primary care provider of record; |
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and |
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(8) performing other acts that require education and |
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training consistent with professional standards and that are |
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commensurate with the licensed rural practitioner's education, |
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license, authorization to practice under this section and Section |
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301.358, and competencies and experience. |
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(f) A licensed rural practitioner is accountable to |
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patients, the nursing profession, and the board for: |
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(1) complying with the requirements of this chapter; |
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(2) providing quality advanced nursing care; |
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(3) recognizing the nurse's limits of knowledge; |
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(4) planning for the management of situations beyond |
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the nurse's expertise; and |
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(5) consulting with or referring patients to other |
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health care providers as appropriate. |
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(g) This section does not limit or modify the scope of |
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practice of a nurse who is not authorized to practice under this |
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section. |
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(h) A law that authorizes a licensed physician assistant or |
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advanced practice registered nurse acting on behalf of or under |
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authority delegated by a physician to take an action is considered |
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to authorize a licensed rural practitioner to take the action. |
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Sec. 301.358. PRESCRIBING AND ORDERING AUTHORITY OF |
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LICENSED RURAL PRACTITIONER. (a) The board by rule may authorize a |
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licensed rural practitioner to prescribe and order drugs and |
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devices, including controlled substances listed in Schedules II, |
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III, IV, and V, dangerous drugs, and nonprescription drugs. |
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(b) The board may establish the level of demonstrated |
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proficiency required to take authorized actions under the rules |
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adopted under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 5. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.052 RURAL HEALTHCARE AREAS. (a) A "Rural |
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Healthcare Area" is defined as: |
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(1) any location in a rural county as defined by |
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Section 487.301, Government Code; |
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(2) a Rural Health Facility Capital Improvement |
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Program defined entity; or |
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(3) any location where a person whose primary |
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residence is in a rural county as defined by Section 487.301, |
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Government Code receives healthcare. |
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SECTION 6. Section 61.9606, Education Code is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.9606. REPAYMENT. (a) Except as provided by Section |
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61.9609(a), the board shall provide repayment assistance under this |
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subchapter in the following amounts: |
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(1) [60] 75 percent of each payment due on an |
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attorney's eligible loans during the first 12-month period after |
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the attorney enters into the agreement under Section 61.9605; |
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(2) 80 percent of each payment due on an attorney's |
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eligible loans during the second 12-month period after the attorney |
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enters into the agreement; and |
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(3) 100 percent of each payment due on an attorney's |
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eligible loans during the third 12-month period after the attorney |
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enters into the agreement. |
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(b) The board shall deliver any repayment assistance made |
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under this subchapter in a lump sum payable to the lender and the |
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attorney and in accordance with any applicable federal law. |
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(c) Loan repayment assistance received under this |
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subchapter may be applied to the principal amount of the loan and to |
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interest that accrues. |
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SECTION 7. The change in law made by Section 1 applies to a |
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grant issued on or after the effective date of this Act. A grant |
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issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date the grant is issued, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 8. Not later than February 1, 2024, the Texas Board |
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of Nursing shall adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes |
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in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |