86R2994 EAS-D
By: Price H.B. No. 1137
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an annual report prepared by the Health Professions
Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 101.151, Occupations Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 101.151. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) The council shall prepare
an annual report that includes:
(1) a statistical compilation of enforcement actions
taken by a regulatory agency listed in Section 101.002;
(2) recommendations for statutory changes to improve
the regulation of the health care professions; [and]
(3) strategies to expand the health care workforce in
this state, including:
(A) methods for reducing the time required to
process license applications for health care professions;
(B) methods for increasing the number of health
care practitioners providing mental and behavioral health care
services; and
(C) any statutory and legislative appropriation
recommendations the council determines are appropriate for
expanding the health care workforce in this state, including
recommendations for expanding the health care workforce in
medically underserved areas; and
(4) [(3)] other relevant information and
recommendations determined necessary by the council.
(b) The council shall send the report to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, [and] the speaker of the house of
representatives, the chairs of the standing committees of the
senate and the house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
over public health, and the chairs of the standing committees of the
senate and the house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
over state finance or appropriations not later than February 1 of
each year.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 101.151, Occupations
Code, as amended by this Act, the Health Professions Council
established under Chapter 101, Occupations Code:
(1) is not required to include in the annual report
required under Section 101.151 the strategies described by Section
101.151(a)(3), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, until
February 1, 2021; and
(2) shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairs
of the standing committees of the senate and the house of
representatives having primary jurisdiction over public health,
and the chairs of the standing committees of the senate and the
house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over state
finance or appropriations a report that includes only the
strategies described by Section 101.151(a)(3) not later than June
1, 2020.
SECTION 3. 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, 2019.