Texas House Bill HB3694

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the health professions resource center; increasing a fee.

Impact

If enacted, HB 3694 will require a modest increase in the fee for renewing social worker licenses by $10, which is intended to fund the social work section for workforce studies established by the bill. The revenue generated from this fee is earmarked specifically for the purpose of collecting and analyzing social work data, which will then be used to assist the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners in its functions. This change could potentially improve workforce planning in social work by offering insights into trends related to demographics and workforce distribution.

Summary

House Bill 3694 addresses the establishment of a social work section for workforce studies within the health professions resource center in Texas. This bill aims to enhance the understanding of educational and employment trends within the social work profession, particularly in regions experiencing a shortage of healthcare professionals. The bill emphasizes the collection of comprehensive data on social workers to better predict supply and demand, thereby informing policy decisions and resource allocation in the state.

Contention

While the bill is generally viewed as a necessary step towards addressing workforce challenges in the social work field, there may be concerns regarding the increased financial burden on social workers due to the fee hike. Some stakeholders have voiced apprehensions over whether the benefits of better data collection will justify the additional expenses incurred by licensed social workers. Therefore, the discussion surrounding HB 3694 may also include considerations about the balance between funding workforce studies and ensuring that practitioners are not facing disproportionately high licensing costs.