83R18576 KKR-F
By: Martinez H.B. No. 2426
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2426:
By: Kolkhorst C.S.H.B. No. 2426
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certification and recertification requirements and
adoption of statewide certification examinations for emergency
services personnel.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 773.012, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsections (m), (n), and (o) to read as follows:
(m) The advisory council shall develop and submit to the
commissioner for approval a process for evaluating national testing
and certifying organizations to be used by the department in
providing statewide certification examinations for emergency
medical services personnel. In developing the evaluation process,
the council shall include criteria to ensure that:
(1) an approved organization tests and certifies
emergency medical services personnel based on the national
emergency medical services education standards of the United States
Department of Transportation or on similar emergency medical
services education standards specified by the commissioner;
(2) an approved organization provides a valid testing
procedure and appropriate testing content; and
(3) an approved organization's certification
examination:
(A) is based on the national emergency medical
services education standards described in Subdivision (1); and
(B) includes procedures to test practical skills
proficiency or for the attestation of practical skills proficiency
as required by the initial education program for emergency medical
services personnel.
(n) Using the approval process developed and approved under
Subsection (m), the advisory council shall:
(1) evaluate each request for approval to provide
statewide certification examinations for emergency medical
services personnel that is submitted by a national testing and
certifying organization; and
(2) submit to the commissioner the advisory council's
recommendation on whether the department should approve a national
testing and certifying organization's request to provide statewide
certification examinations for emergency medical services
personnel not later than six months after the date a request for
consideration from an organization is received by the council.
(o) Not later than the 60th day after the date the
commissioner receives a recommendation made by the advisory council
under Subsection (n), the commissioner shall determine whether to
approve the recommended national testing and certifying
organization to provide statewide certification examinations for
emergency medical services personnel.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0541 to read as follows:
Sec. 773.0541. CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL. (a) The
commissioner shall consider and approve not more than three
national testing and certifying organizations recommended by the
advisory council under Section 773.012(n) for the certification and
recertification of emergency medical services personnel. A
statewide certification examination approved by the commissioner
must meet the requirements specified in Section 773.012(m).
(b) In establishing minimum standards under Section
773.050, the commissioner shall establish standards for the
recertification of emergency medical services personnel that allow
personnel to qualify for recertification by complying with one of
the following options:
(1) passing a statewide certification examination
approved by the commissioner;
(2) successfully completing the continuing education
requirements established by the department, which may not exceed
the maximum number of education hours required by an approved
national testing and certifying organization to ensure competency
of emergency medical services personnel;
(3) holding a current certification issued by a
national certifying organization approved by the commissioner; and
(4) successfully completing a formal recertification
course that complies with the minimum hours and standards
established by the department, which may not exceed the maximum
number of education hours required by an approved national testing
and certifying organization to ensure competency of emergency
medical services personnel.
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the advisory
council appointed under Section 773.012, Health and Safety Code,
shall develop and provide to the commissioner of state health
services the proposed process for evaluating national testing and
certifying organizations to be approved by the department to
provide statewide certification examinations for emergency medical
services personnel as required by Section 773.012(m), Health and
Safety Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2014, the commissioner of state
health services shall approve an evaluation process described by
Subsection (a) of this section as required by Section 773.012(o),
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2014, the commissioner of
state health services shall establish the standards for
recertification of emergency medical services personnel, as
required under Section 773.0541, Health and Safety Code, as added
by this Act.
(d) Not later than March 1, 2014, the executive commissioner
of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules
required to implement Section 773.0541, Health and Safety Code, as
added by this Act.
(e) The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an
emergency medical services personnel certification or
recertification application submitted on or after September 1,
2014. An application submitted before that date is governed by the
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.