H.B. No. 2696
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on reducing workplace violence against nurses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 105.001, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subdivisions (3), (4), (5), and (6) to read as
  follows:
               (3)  "Freestanding emergency medical care facility"
  means a facility licensed under Chapter 254.
               (4)  "Home health agency" means a home and community
  support services agency licensed under Chapter 142. 
               (5)  "Hospital" means a general or special hospital
  licensed under Chapter 241, a private mental hospital licensed
  under Chapter 577, or a hospital that is maintained or operated by
  this state or an agency of this state.
               (6)  "Nursing facility" means an institution licensed
  under Chapter 242.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 105, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 105.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 105.009.  STUDY ON WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AGAINST NURSES.
  (a)  To the extent existing funding is available, the nursing
  resource section established under Section 105.002 may conduct a
  study on workplace violence against nurses in hospitals,
  freestanding emergency medical care facilities, nursing
  facilities, and home health agencies. A study conducted under this
  section must:
               (1)  distinguish between verbal and physical violence;
               (2)  determine the practice areas, environments, and
  settings in which verbal or physical violence is likely to occur;
               (3)  identify practices that prevent or reduce verbal
  and physical violence against nurses;
               (4)  survey nurses regarding the type and frequency of
  verbal and physical violence the nurses have experienced in the
  preceding year and throughout the nurses' careers; and
               (5)  survey hospitals, freestanding emergency medical
  care facilities, nursing facilities, and home health agencies
  regarding the occurrence of verbal and physical violence against
  nurses and specific strategies implemented to prevent verbal and
  physical violence, including:
                     (A)  required reporting of verbal and physical
  violence;
                     (B)  reporting of physical assaults to law
  enforcement; and
                     (C)  implementation of a violence prevention plan
  and the contents of and personnel covered by the plan.
         (b)  The nursing resource section may contract with an
  independent researcher to conduct all or part of the study.
         (c)  The nursing advisory committee established by Section
  104.0155 shall serve as the oversight committee for the study.
         (d)  To the extent possible, the nursing resource section
  shall cooperate with the department and the Texas Board of Nursing
  to conduct the study and coordinate the surveys under this section
  with surveys required by other provisions of law.
         (e)  If the nursing resource section conducts a study under
  this section, not later than December 1, 2016, the nursing resource
  section shall complete the study and publish the study findings.
         (f)  This section expires December 31, 2017.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement
  Section 105.009, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2696 was passed by the House on May
  11, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 112, Nays 22, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2696 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 6,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2696 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
  2.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor