SB2891 - Relating to the establishment of the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council and the abolition of the statewide health coordinating council and the nursing advisory committee of that council.

      By: Cook, et al. S.B. No. 2891     (Orr, Frank, Pierson, Bucy)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Health Professions Workforce   Coordinating Council and the abolition of the statewide health   coordinating council and the nursing advisory committee of that   council.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 104A to read as follows:   CHAPTER 104A. HEALTH PROFESSIONS WORKFORCE COORDINATING COUNCIL           Sec.   104A.001.     DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council"   means the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council.           Sec.   104A.002.     ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT.     (a)   The Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council is   established to study and develop a strategic approach for ensuring   a thriving health care system and health professions workforce in   this state.           (b)     The council is administratively attached to the   department. The department shall provide administrative support to   the council.           Sec. 104A.003.  MEMBERSHIP. (a)  The council is composed of:                 (1)     at least one representative appointed by the   executive director or governing body of each of the following:                       (A)  the department;                       (B)  the commission;                       (C)  the Texas Education Agency;                       (D)     the Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board;                       (E)  the Texas Workforce Commission;                       (F)  the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;                       (G)  the State Board of Dental Examiners;                       (H)  the Texas Medical Board;                       (I)  the Texas Board of Nursing;                       (J)  the Texas Optometry Board;                       (K)  the Texas State Board of Pharmacy;                       (L)     the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and   Occupational Therapy Examiners;                       (M)     the Texas Behavioral Health Executive   Council;                       (N)     the State Board of Veterinary Medical   Examiners; and                       (O)     the Texas Veterinary Medical Association;   and                 (2)     four members with relevant health care experience,   including experience in health professions workforce planning or   complex health care data analysis, appointed by the governor.           (b)     A council member serves at the pleasure of the   appointing authority.           (c)     A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same   manner as the original appointment.           Sec. 104A.004.  DUTIES. The council shall:                 (1)     compile from each state agency with a   representative appointed to the council under Section   104A.003(a)(1) information regarding the health professions   workforce, including:                       (A)     high school graduation rates from the Texas   Education Agency;                       (B)     higher education graduation and   certification rates from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board;                       (C)  health professions workforce shortages;                       (D)     the number of licensed health care   professionals regulated by each participating licensing state   agency;                       (E)     federal labor statistics regarding health   professions; and                       (F)     any other information relevant to the supply   and demand of health care professionals;                 (2)     prepare the strategic plan described by Section   104A.005; and                 (3)     establish the work group described by Section   104A.006.           Sec.   104A.005.     STRATEGIC PLAN. (a)   The council shall   examine the health professions in this state based on the   information compiled under Section 104A.004(1) and biennially   prepare a health professions strategic plan.   The plan must:                 (1)     include a data analysis model demonstrating the   supply, demand, production, and projected need for the next 10   years of the health professions workforce;                 (2)     define targeted goals and objectives for the   health professions workforce, including short-term and long-term   strategies for each state agency participating in the council and   local workforce planning agencies to build a thriving health care   system;                 (3)     identify immediate shortages in health   professions;                 (4)     define goals for this state to support the health   care needs of a growing population;                 (5)     examine this state's capacity to satisfy future   health profession demands based on the existing education programs   offered and current trends of interstate migration, attrition, and   other relevant workforce factors;                 (6)     propose recommendations to realign existing   workforce and education programs;                 (7)     propose the development of additional education   programs for health professions that align with the long-term goals   and projections identified in the plan;                   (8)     identify systemic causes of workforce shortages   for health professions; and                 (9)     inventory programs and services, including state   funding amounts provided for workforce planning and preparation and   for health professional education.           (b)     Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the   council shall complete and publish on the council's Internet   website the strategic plan described by Subsection (a).           Sec.   104A.006.     WORK GROUP. (a)   The council shall establish   a work group to examine the health professions and health care   education programs that provide a gateway into a variety of health   professions.   The work group consists of members of the council or   their designees.           (b)  The work group shall:                 (1)     identify sources for gathering information on   gateway health professions; and                 (2)     build a data analysis model to monitor the   historical growth of gateway health professions.           Sec.   104A.007.     NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)   The   council shall establish a nursing advisory committee to assist the   council with its duties.   A majority of the members of the advisory   committee must be nurses, and the advisory committee:                 (1)  must include:                       (A)     members of associations representing nurses,   educators of nurses, and employers of nurses;                       (B)     members representing the Texas Board of   Nursing; and                       (C)     at least one member who is a nurse   researcher; and                 (2)     may include other members who are public or   private sector health care experts, nurses, nurse educators,   employers of nurses, or consumers of nursing services.           (b)  The nursing advisory committee shall:                 (1)     review policies governing data collection and   reports published under Chapter 105 that relate to the nursing   profession;                 (2)     subject to approval of the council, develop   priorities and an operations plan for the nursing resource section   established under Section 105.002(b); and                 (3)     review reports and information before   dissemination by the council.           (c)     A nurse member of the nursing advisory committee and a   nurse member of the council shall co-chair the committee.           (d)     Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   nursing advisory committee formed under this section.           (e)     Meetings of the nursing advisory committee under this   section are subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.           Sec.   104A.008.     DEPARTMENT AUTHORITY TO COLLECT DATA.     Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the collection of   health care facility data by the department or a program the   department administers in accordance with other law.          SECTION 2.  Section 56.3075(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  If the money available for TEXAS grants in a period for   which grants are awarded is sufficient to provide grants to all   eligible applicants in amounts specified by Section 56.307, the   coordinating board may use any excess money available for TEXAS   grants to award a grant in an amount not more than three times the   amount that may be awarded under Section 56.307 to a student who:                (1)  is enrolled in a program that fulfills the   educational requirements for licensure or certification by the   state in a health care profession that the coordinating board, in   consultation with the Texas Wor [Text truncated for display. 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