By: Howard, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Buckingham) H.B. No. 280
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 2017;
May 11, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
Human Services; May 17, 2017, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 7, Nays 2; May 17, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grant program for reducing workplace violence against
nurses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 105, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 105.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 105.011. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) To the extent funding is available, the nursing resource
section established under Section 105.002 shall administer a grant
program to fund innovative approaches for reducing verbal and
physical violence against nurses in hospitals, freestanding
emergency medical care facilities, nursing facilities, and home
health agencies.
(b) The nursing resource section shall require a grant
recipient to submit periodic reports describing the outcome of the
activities funded through the grant, including any change in the
severity and frequency of verbal and physical violence against
nurses.
(c) The nursing advisory committee established by Section
104.0155 shall serve in an advisory capacity for the grant program.
(d) The department shall provide administrative assistance
to the nursing resource section in administering the grant program
under this section.
(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to
implement the grant program, including rules governing the
submission and approval of grant requests and establishing a
reporting procedure for grant recipients.
(f) The nursing resource section may use money transferred
to the department from the Texas Board of Nursing under Section
301.155, Occupations Code, to fund the grants authorized by this
section.
(g) At least annually, the nursing resource section shall
publish a report describing the grants awarded under this section,
including the amount of the grant, the purpose of the grant, and the
reported outcome of the approach adopted by the grant recipient.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement
Section 105.011, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
* * * * *