88R13179 MPF-F
 
  By: LaMantia S.B. No. 1825
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to required reportable disease training 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 117 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 117. TRAINING COURSE ON REPORTABLE DISEASES
         Sec. 117.001.  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)  "Qualifying health care practitioner" means an
  individual who:
                     (A)  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; and
                     (B)  is required to report a suspected reportable
  disease to the local health authority under Section 81.042, Health
  and Safety Code.
               (4)  "Reportable disease" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code.
         Sec. 117.002.  REQUIRED TRAINING COURSE ON PROCEDURES FOR
  REPORTABLE DISEASE REPORTING FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE
  PRACTITIONERS. (a)  A qualifying health care practitioner within
  the time prescribed by commission rule shall complete a training
  course approved by the executive commissioner on the procedures for
  reportable disease reporting.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall:
               (1)  approve training courses on the procedures for
  reportable disease reporting; and
               (2)  post a list of the approved training courses on the
  commission's Internet website.
         (c)  An approved training course under Subsection (b) may not
  be less than three hours, and must include:
               (1)  information on the most recent list of reportable
  diseases maintained under Section 81.041, Health and Safety Code;
               (2)  the reporting time requirements for each disease
  on the list; and
               (3)  an overview of state agency rules relating to
  reportable diseases.
         (d)  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. 117.003.  TRAINING REQUIRED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. A
  qualifying health care practitioner shall complete a training
  course described by Section 117.002 as part of the practitioner's
  continuing education requirements for renewal of a license,
  certificate, permit, or other authorization issued to the health
  care practitioner under this title.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  Chapter 117, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 117.002, Occupations Code, as
  added by this Act, a health care practitioner is not required to
  comply with that section before September 1, 2024.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.