BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3032

By: Howard

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2036, Texas will have a shortage of over 3,800 licensed vocational nurses in North Texas, Central Texas, and the Gulf Coast while also projecting that all regions, except the Panhandle, will have a shortage of over 56,000 registered nurses. The Texas Healthcare Workforce Task Force reported that 224 of Texas' 254 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas, with 6,066,420 Texas residents living in these area. According to the Texas Hospital Association, Texas nursing schools turned away 13,705 qualified applicants in 2023 citing a lack of masters-prepared faculty and clinical space. The bill author has informed the committee that there are currently 10 state hospitals, 13 state-supported living centers, and 71 federally qualified health centers that persons incarcerated in Texas receive healthcare through a partnership with The University of Texas Medical Branch, and that each of those facilities could potentially serve as clinical training sites. H.B. 3032 seeks to direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, to study the feasibility of using these health-related facilities as clinical training sites for nursing students.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3032 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department regarding the feasibility of establishing clinical sites at correctional facilities, state juvenile facilities, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers to provide clinical learning experiences for nursing students. The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education or nursing a written report that includes the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

H.B. 3032 defines the following terms by reference to state or federal law, as applicable, for purposes of the bill's provisions:

· "correctional facility," by reference to general Penal Code provisions;

· "federally qualified health center," by reference to federal law relating to grants to states for Medicaid programs;

· "hospital," by reference to Education Code provisions relating to programs supporting graduate medical education; and

· "state juvenile facility," by reference to Code of Criminal Procedure provisions relating to the death of a person while in custody.  

The provisions of H.B. 3032 expire September 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.