HBA-ALS H.B. 1515 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1515
By: Maxey
State Affairs
3/16/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 1515 establishes a health professions task force (task force),
appointed by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives, to investigate the policies and procedures of each health
professions board.  This bill requires the task force to submit a report of
its findings and recommendations concerning the major issues facing health
professions regulation to the legislature and statewide health coordinating
council by January 1, 2000. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. TASK FORCE; MEMBERSHIP.  Requires the lieutenant governor and
speaker of the house of representatives to appoint 16 persons to serve on a
health professions task force (task force), no later than October 1, 1999.
Provides that the task force consists of specified members. 

SECTION 2.  TASK FORCE DUTIES.  (a) Provides that "health professions
board" is defined as a state agency that licenses, certifies, or registers
a health care practitioner. 

(b) Requires the task force to thoroughly investigate, for each health
professions board, the board's composition, complaint and grievance
procedures, disciplinary  procedures, criteria for reciprocity with other
jurisdictions of each regulated profession, required credentials of each
regulated profession, dissemination of consumer information, and continuing
education requirements. 

(c) Requires the task force to submit to the legislature and statewide
health coordinating council by January 1, 2000, a report of its findings
and recommended solutions concerning the major issues facing health
professions regulation. 

SECTION 3.EXPIRATION.  Provides that this Act expires March 1, 2000.

SECTION 4Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.