H.B. No. 2059
AN ACT
relating to required human trafficking prevention training as a
condition of registration permit or license renewal for certain
health care practitioners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 116 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 116. TRAINING COURSE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION
Sec. 116.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(3) "Health care practitioner" means an individual who
holds a license, certificate, permit, or other authorization issued
under this title to engage in a health care profession and who
provides direct patient care.
Sec. 116.002. REQUIRED TRAINING COURSE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. (a) A health care
practitioner, other than a physician or nurse, within the time
prescribed by commission rule shall successfully complete a
training course approved by the executive commissioner on
identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking.
(b) The executive commissioner shall:
(1) approve training courses on human trafficking
prevention, including at least one course that is available without
charge; and
(2) post a list of the approved training courses on the
commission's Internet website.
(c) The executive commissioner shall update the list of
approved training courses described by Subsection (b) as necessary
and consider for approval training courses conducted by health care
facilities.
Sec. 116.003. TRAINING REQUIRED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. A
health care practitioner, other than a physician or nurse, shall
successfully complete a training course described by Section
116.002 as a condition for renewal of a license issued to the health
care practitioner under this title.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 156, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 156.060 to read as follows:
Sec. 156.060. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PREVENTION. (a) A physician licensed under this subtitle who
submits an application for renewal of a registration permit and who
designates a direct patient care practice must complete, as part of
the hours of continuing medical education required for compliance
with Section 156.051(a)(2), a human trafficking prevention course
approved by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission under Section 116.002.
(b) The board shall designate the human trafficking
prevention course required by Subsection (a) as a medical ethics or
professional responsibility course for purposes of complying with
continuing medical education required by Section 156.051(a)(2).
(c) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.308 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.308. CONTINUING EDUCATION IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PREVENTION. (a) As part of a continuing competency program under
Section 301.303, a license holder who provides direct patient care
shall complete a human trafficking prevention course approved by
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission under Section 116.002.
(b) The board shall adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall approve and post on the commission's
Internet website the list of approved human trafficking prevention
training courses and adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter
116, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 5. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act, the applicable licensing agency shall provide
notice to a health care practitioner of the human trafficking
prevention training required under Chapter 116, Occupations Code,
as added by this Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 116.002, Occupations Code, as
added by this Act, a health care practitioner is not required to
comply with that section before September 1, 2020.
SECTION 6. Sections 156.060 and 301.308, Occupations Code,
as added by this Act, apply only to the renewal of a registration
permit to practice medicine or the renewal of a license to practice
nursing on or after September 1, 2020. The renewal of a
registration permit or license before that date is governed by the
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2059 was passed by the House on May
10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 7, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2059 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor