BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2856 By: Howard Higher Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author informed the committee that, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2036 there will be a shortage of licensed vocational nurses in North Texas, Central Texas, and the Gulf Coast. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies reports that there are two pinch points in the nursing pipeline: a lack of clinical spaces and a lack of faculty positions and applicants. H.B. 2856 seeks to address these issues by directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in institutions of higher education who require clinical training. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2856 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education who require clinical training. The bill requires the study to determine the following: the number of regions needed to adequately support institutions of higher education and students that require clinical training; the cost of establishing regional portals; and the necessary maintenance, support, and staff required to establish and maintain the regional portals. The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of each standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education a written report that includes the study's findings and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2856
By: Howard
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2856
By: Howard
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author informed the committee that, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2036 there will be a shortage of licensed vocational nurses in North Texas, Central Texas, and the Gulf Coast. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies reports that there are two pinch points in the nursing pipeline: a lack of clinical spaces and a lack of faculty positions and applicants. H.B. 2856 seeks to address these issues by directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in institutions of higher education who require clinical training.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2856 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education who require clinical training. The bill requires the study to determine the following: the number of regions needed to adequately support institutions of higher education and students that require clinical training; the cost of establishing regional portals; and the necessary maintenance, support, and staff required to establish and maintain the regional portals. The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of each standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education a written report that includes the study's findings and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author informed the committee that, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2036 there will be a shortage of licensed vocational nurses in North Texas, Central Texas, and the Gulf Coast. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies reports that there are two pinch points in the nursing pipeline: a lack of clinical spaces and a lack of faculty positions and applicants. H.B. 2856 seeks to address these issues by directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in institutions of higher education who require clinical training.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2856 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study on the feasibility of developing regional portals to assist in reserving clinical rotations at health care facilities for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education who require clinical training. The bill requires the study to determine the following:
the number of regions needed to adequately support institutions of higher education and students that require clinical training;
the cost of establishing regional portals; and
the necessary maintenance, support, and staff required to establish and maintain the regional portals.
The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of each standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education a written report that includes the study's findings and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.