HBA-MPM C.S.H.B. 2650 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2650
By: Capelo
Public Health
4/17/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



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 20 hours of continuing education every two
years to maintain their license.  C.S.H.B. 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 20 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

C.S.H.B. 2650 amends the Occupations Code to require a licensed nurse who
renews a license on or after June 1, 2002 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.  These provisions expire June 1,
2004. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001 
The Act applies to continuing education offered on or after June 1, 2002.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2650 differs from the original bill by applying the requirement
that a license holder participate in at least two hours of continuing
education relating to hepatitis C in a two-year licensing period only to
license holders who renew a license on or after June 1, 2002.  The
substitute provides that the hepatitis C continuing education provisions
expire June 1, 2004.