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.

The text as introduced · 928 words

90R2708 AND-D

By: Howard
H.B. No. 352

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

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.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. NURSE AIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. (a) The Texas

Board of Nursing and the Health and Human Services Commission shall

jointly develop an operational plan for transitioning the nurse

aide certification program from the Health and Human Services

Commission to the Texas Board of Nursing. The plan must include all

financial, operational, and other relevant considerations

necessary for the transition.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2028, the Texas Board of

Nursing and the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit

the plan developed under this section to the governor, the

lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

and each standing committee of the legislature with primary

jurisdiction over nursing.

SECTION 2. NURSING CAREER PATHWAYS. (a) The Texas Center

for Nursing Workforce Studies shall establish and oversee a

workgroup to assess the feasibility of better aligning the

certification and career pathways of nurse aides, medication aides,

and personal care technicians into the nursing profession.

(b) The workgroup must include:

(1) the executive head of each of the following

entities, or that person's designated representative:

(A) the Texas Board of Nursing;

(B) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(C) the Texas Workforce Commission;

(D) the Texas Education Agency; and

(E) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating

Board; and

(2) relevant academic or health care professionals.

(c) In conducting the assessment under this section, the

workgroup shall consider and evaluate:

(1) the standards, regulations, and laws currently

impacting the nursing profession;

(2) the feasibility of alignment in certification

requirements for nurse aides, medication aides, and personal care

technicians to minimize duplicative efforts in the educational

pathways in nursing; and

(3) the present and future impact of new business

practices and advancing technologies in health care.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2028, the workgroup

established under this section shall submit a report summarizing

the results of the assessment conducted under this section to the

governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature

with primary jurisdiction over nursing.

SECTION 3. GOLD RIBBON PANEL ON THE FUTURE OF NURSING. (a)

In this section, "board" means the Texas Board of Nursing.

(b) The board, in consultation with the Texas Center for

Nursing Workforce Studies, shall oversee a gold ribbon panel to

review and examine the current nursing program standards and

educational and other accreditation requirements to identify any

changes needed to prepare for the future of the nursing profession.

The panel consists of not more than 13 members appointed by the

governor as follows:

(1) one member who is a registered nurse;

(2) one member who is a licensed vocational nurse;

(3) one member who is an advanced practice registered

nurse;

(4) three members representing nursing education

programs, with at least one representing each of the following:

(A) an associate degree program;

(B) a baccalaureate degree program; and

(C) a nursing program provided by a private

institution of higher education;

(5) three members representing hospitals, including

representation of at least three of the following:

(A) a hospital in a rural community;

(B) a hospital in an urban community;

(C) a trauma hospital;

(D) a teaching hospital; and

(E) a children's hospital; and

(6) not more than four members with relevant

experience representing alternative practice settings such as a

nursing home, a community health clinic, or at-home health.

(c) Not later than the 60th day after the date the panel is

appointed, the board shall publish on the board's Internet website

and in the Texas Register a request for written comments regarding

nursing program standards and educational and other accreditation

requirements from stakeholders in nursing programs and the nursing

profession. The board shall forward relevant comments to the

panel.

(d) The board shall assist the panel in conducting at least

three public hearings in accessible locations to obtain oral and

written comments regarding nursing program standards and

educational and other accreditation requirements. The board shall

provide notice of the hearings in the manner provided by Chapter

551, Government Code, and on the board's Internet website.

(e) The panel is a governmental body for purposes of

Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code.

(f) In conducting the review under this section, the panel

shall evaluate and consider:

(1) innovative nursing industry programs across the

United States, in the military, and in other countries;

(2) published literature regarding effective methods

for educating and regulating nurses that result in measurable

improved outcomes; and

(3) the effect on the practice of nursing of changes

in:

(A) technology that impacts the nursing

profession;

(B) the role of nurses in health practice; and

(C) nursing education, including the teaching of

soft skills and patient interaction.

(g) The board and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating

Board shall provide administrative support to the panel.

(h) Not later than December 1, 2028, the panel shall submit

a report summarizing the results of the review under this section

and including the panel's recommendations to the governor, the

lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

and each standing committee of the legislature with primary

jurisdiction over nursing.

SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2029.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September

1, 2027.