Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate
Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate
Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate
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HEALTH AND HUMAN<br />
SERVICES<br />
Care<br />
ERVICES/Long-Term<br />
77 th <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Legislature</strong><br />
Temporary Licensing for New Nursing Home Facility Owners - S.B. 37<br />
by Senators Zaffirini and Moncrief<br />
House Sponsor: Representative Naishtat<br />
Currently, when a new owner applies for a license to operate a nursing facility already in operation in<br />
<strong>Texas</strong>, the new owner may be required to meet all the qualifications for a license before the <strong>Texas</strong><br />
Department of Human Services (DHS) will grant a nursing facility license. If the facility has deficiencies,<br />
DHS has the authority to withhold Medicaid reimbursements until the deficiencies are corrected.<br />
Allows new nursing home owners of existing nursing home facilities to apply for a temporary operating<br />
license issued by DHS. Operating with a temporary license will allow the new owner time to correct any<br />
deficiencies existing in the facility before receiving a standard license.<br />
Getting Nurses to Practice in Long-Term Care Facilities - S.B. 40<br />
by Senators Zaffirini and Lucio<br />
House Sponsor: Representative Naishtat<br />
Requires the <strong>Texas</strong> Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to establish and administer a tuition<br />
assistance program for vocational nursing students attending any school or program in this state who<br />
agree, after becoming licensed vocational nurses, to practice in a long-term care facility in this state.<br />
Requires a student, after completing all courses required for licensure, to begin fulfilling the long-term care<br />
facility work obligation not later than a time specified by board rule. The student also must complete the<br />
obligation within a period determined by board rule. The board may grant a student, on a showing of good<br />
cause, additional time to begin or complete the work obligation.<br />
Requires a person receiving tuition assistance to sign a promissory note promising to repay the amount of<br />
the tuition assistance, plus applicable interest and reasonable collection costs if the person does not satisfy<br />
the conditions of the assistance. The board must determine the terms of the note.<br />
Best Practices Competitive Grant Program for Nursing Homes - S.B. 159<br />
by Senator Zaffirini<br />
House Sponsor: Representative Naishtat<br />
Currently, administrative penalties collected by the state from nursing facilities are deposited in the general<br />
treasury.<br />
Requires the <strong>Texas</strong> Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a best practices/quality of life<br />
competitive grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to pay part of the costs of a project<br />
proposed by an institution that is designed to improve the quality of life for residents of the institution and<br />
that could serve as a model of best practices for the industry.<br />
<strong>Senate</strong> Research Center 129
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