The meeting of the Committee on Public Health addressed a range of health-related bills, with significant discussions surrounding House Bill 3717, aimed at establishing a grant program for clinical trials related to Ibogaine as a treatment for opioid use disorder. Representative Harris presented the bill, which received unanimous support from the committee. Other bills, such as House Bill 3800, which seeks to create an advisory group for local workforce partnerships in education and health care, were also approved with committee substitutes, reflecting clarifications made for better implementation. The overall atmosphere was positive with members actively engaging in voting and discussion.
Relating to the transition of the nurse aide certification program from the Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Board of Nursing and to the creation of a workgroup on nursing career pathways and a panel on nursing program standards.
Relating to manufacturer fees for operation of a real-time electronic logging system to track over-the-counter sales of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or norpseudoephedrine; imposing a fee; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the licensing and regulation of advanced practice registered nurses and the payment of independent advanced practice registered nurses in certain government employee health plans.
Relating to solicitation of patients and other prohibited marketing practices, the establishment of the task force on patient solicitation, and the prosecution of certain related criminal offenses.
Relating to the licensing and regulation of persons who provide services in relation to the deceased; creating a criminal offense and increasing the punishment for an existing criminal offense; expanding the application of a fee.
Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services.