H.B. No. 80
AN ACT
relating to a study and report regarding shortages in certain
health professions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.06691 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.06691. STUDY ON SHORTAGES IN CERTAIN HEALTH
PROFESSIONS. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the board
shall conduct a study in collaboration with the Texas Health
Professions Resource Center, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce
Studies, and the Texas Demographic Center to identify statewide and
regional shortages in health professions, with an emphasis on
shortages in doctoral-level training in those health professions.
Using existing information to the extent possible, the board shall
develop an inventory of existing health science education programs
at institutions of higher education and private or independent
institutions of higher education and note the enrollment capacity
for each of those programs. The study must include an analysis of
shortages in the following health professions for which
doctoral-level training is offered:
(1) medicine, including a doctor of medicine degree
(M.D.) and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (D.O.);
(2) dentistry, including a doctor of dental surgery
degree (D.D.S.) and a doctor of dental medicine degree (D.M.D.);
(3) nursing, including a doctor of philosophy degree
and a doctor of nursing practice degree;
(4) physical therapy, including a doctor of philosophy
degree and a doctor of physical therapy degree;
(5) occupational therapy, including a doctor of
philosophy degree and a doctor of occupational therapy degree;
(6) audiology, including a doctor of philosophy degree
and a doctor of audiology degree;
(7) psychology, including a doctor of philosophy
degree and a doctor of psychology degree;
(8) pharmacy, including a doctor of philosophy degree
and a doctor of pharmacy degree;
(9) public health, including a doctor of philosophy
degree and a doctor of public health degree; and
(10) speech-language pathology, including a doctor of
philosophy degree and a doctor of speech-language pathology degree.
(b) The board shall make recommendations regarding the
establishment of new programs and expansion of existing programs to
meet the increased need for health professionals in the state,
including in particular the increased need for health professionals
with doctoral-level training who serve rural communities in this
state.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2023, the board shall submit
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
of representatives, and each legislative standing committee with
primary jurisdiction over higher education the results of its study
under this section and recommendations for legislative or other
action.
(d) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source to conduct the study,
prepare the report, and develop recommendations as required under
this section.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2024.
SECTION 2. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 80 was passed by the House on April
17, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 8, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 80 was passed by the Senate on May 16,
2019, by the following vote: Yeas 19, Nays 12.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor