HBA-CCH H.B. 2650 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2650
By: Capelo
Public Health
3/30/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Hepatitis C is a chronic liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus
(HCV).  According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 8,000 to
10,000 Americans die each year from hepatitis C and approximately four
million others have been infected with HCV.  Most HCV infected persons are
between 30 and 49 years of age and are expected to develop chronic liver
disease as they age.  Consequently, the number of deaths attributable to
HCV could increase substantially during the next two decades.  It is
imperative that health care professionals such as licensed nurses are
knowledgeable about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis
C.  Currently, the Board of Nurse Examiners (board) may require licensed
nurses to complete as much as twenty hours of continuing education every
two years to maintain their license.  House Bill 2650 requires the board to
develop hepatitis C continuing education training and requires licensed
nurses to complete at least two hours of continuing education instruction
related to hepatitis C as part of the twenty hours.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2650 amends the Occupations Code to require a licensed nurse to
participate in at least two hours of continuing education related to
hepatitis C in a two-year licensing period.  The bill requires the Board of
Nurse Examiners to recognize, prepare, or administer a hepatitis C training
component for use in continuing education for licensed nurses.  The bill
provides that the training component must provide information relating to
the prevention, assessment, and treatment of hepatitis C.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.