1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the training and regulation of promotoras and community
1-3 health workers.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, as added by
1-6 Section 2.01, Chapter 857, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
1-7 Session, 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1-8 CHAPTER 48 [46]. TRAINING AND REGULATION
1-9 OF PROMOTORAS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
1-10 Sec. 48.001 [46.001]. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this
1-11 chapter:
1-12 (1) "Compensation" includes receiving payment or
1-13 receiving reimbursement for expenses.
1-14 (2) "Promotora" or "community health worker"[,
1-15 "promotora"] means a person who, with or without compensation,
1-16 provides a [bilingual] liaison between health care providers and
1-17 patients through activities that may include activities such as
1-18 assisting in case conferences, providing patient education, making
1-19 referrals to health and social services, conducting needs
1-20 assessments, distributing surveys to identify barriers to health
1-21 care delivery, making home visits, and providing bilingual language
1-22 services.
1-23 Sec. 48.002 [46.002]. PROMOTORA AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
1-24 TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The department shall establish and operate
1-25 a program designed to train and educate persons who act as
2-1 promotoras or community health workers. In establishing the
2-2 training program, the department, to the extent possible, shall
2-3 consider the report and any findings of and implement any
2-4 applicable recommendations of the Promotora Program Development
2-5 Committee [use as a resource the uniform curriculum for training
2-6 and educating promotoras developed by the Health Education Training
2-7 Centers Alliance of Texas].
2-8 (b) Participation in a training and education program
2-9 established under this section is voluntary for a promotora or
2-10 community health worker who provides services without receiving any
2-11 compensation and mandatory for a promotora or community health
2-12 worker who provides services for compensation. The board may adopt
2-13 rules to exempt a promotora or community health worker from
2-14 mandatory training who has served for three or more years or who
2-15 has 1,000 or more hours of experience.
2-16 Sec. 48.003 [46.003]. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR PROMOTORAS
2-17 AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. (a) The department shall establish
2-18 and operate a certification program for persons who act as
2-19 promotoras or community health workers. In establishing the
2-20 program, the board shall adopt rules that provide minimum standards
2-21 and guidelines, including participation in the training and
2-22 education program under Section 48.002 [46.002], for issuance of a
2-23 certificate to a person under this section. In adopting the
2-24 minimum standards and guidelines, the board shall consider the
2-25 report and any findings of and adopt any applicable recommendations
2-26 of the Promotora Program Development Committee.
3-1 (b) Receipt of a certificate issued under this section may
3-2 not be a requirement for a person to act as a promotora or
3-3 community health worker without receiving any compensation and is a
3-4 requirement for a person to act as a promotora or community health
3-5 worker for compensation.
3-6 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1051 passed the Senate on
April 11, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0, one
present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
amendment on May 26, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1051 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 23, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor