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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required reportable disease training for certain health |
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care practitioners. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 117 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 117. TRAINING COURSE ON REPORTABLE DISEASES |
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Sec. 117.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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(3) "Qualifying health care practitioner" means an |
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individual who: |
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(A) holds a license, certificate, permit, or |
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other authorization issued under this title to engage in a health |
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care profession and who provides direct patient care; and |
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(B) is required to report a suspected reportable |
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disease to the local health authority under Section 81.042, Health |
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and Safety Code. |
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(4) "Reportable disease" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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Sec. 117.002. REQUIRED TRAINING COURSE ON PROCEDURES FOR |
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REPORTABLE DISEASE REPORTING FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE |
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PRACTITIONERS. (a) A qualifying health care practitioner within |
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the time prescribed by commission rule shall complete a training |
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course approved by the executive commissioner on the procedures for |
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reportable disease reporting. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall: |
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(1) approve training courses on the procedures for |
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reportable disease reporting; and |
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(2) post a list of the approved training courses on the |
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commission's Internet website. |
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(c) An approved training course under Subsection (b) may not |
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be less than three hours, and must include: |
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(1) information on the most recent list of reportable |
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diseases maintained under Section 81.041, Health and Safety Code; |
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(2) the reporting time requirements for each disease |
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on the list; and |
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(3) an overview of state agency rules relating to |
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reportable diseases. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall update the list of |
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approved training courses described by Subsection (b) as necessary |
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and consider for approval training courses conducted by health care |
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facilities. |
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Sec. 117.003. TRAINING REQUIRED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. A |
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qualifying health care practitioner shall complete a training |
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course described by Section 117.002 as part of the practitioner's |
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continuing education requirements for renewal of a license, |
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certificate, permit, or other authorization issued to the health |
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care practitioner under this title. |
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SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Chapter 117, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 117.002, Occupations Code, as |
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added by this Act, a health care practitioner is not required to |
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comply with that section before September 1, 2024. |
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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. |