HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 2. HEALTH

SUBTITLE E. HEALTH CARE COUNCILS AND RESOURCE CENTERS

CHAPTER 104A. HEALTH PROFESSIONS WORKFORCE COORDINATING COUNCIL

Sec. 104A.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "council" means the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.002.  ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT.  (a)  The Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council is established to study and develop a strategic approach for ensuring a thriving health care system and health professions workforce in this state.
(b)  The council is administratively attached to the department.  The department shall provide administrative support to the council.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.003.  MEMBERSHIP.  (a)  The council is composed of:
(1)  at least one representative appointed by the executive director or governing body of each of the following:
(A)  the department;
(B)  the commission;
(C)  the Texas Education Agency;
(D)  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(E)  the Texas Workforce Commission;
(F)  the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
(G)  the State Board of Dental Examiners;
(H)  the Texas Medical Board;
(I)  the Texas Board of Nursing;
(J)  the Texas Optometry Board;
(K)  the Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
(L)  the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners;
(M)  the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council;
(N)  the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; and
(O)  the Texas Veterinary Medical Association; and
(2)  four members with relevant health care experience, including experience in health professions workforce planning or complex health care data analysis, appointed by the governor.
(b)  A council member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
(c)  A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.004.  DUTIES.  The council shall:
(1)  compile from each state agency with a representative appointed to the council under Section 104A.003(a)(1) information regarding the health professions workforce, including:
(A)  high school graduation rates from the Texas Education Agency;
(B)  higher education graduation and certification rates from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(C)  health professions workforce shortages;
(D)  the number of licensed health care professionals regulated by each participating licensing state agency;
(E)  federal labor statistics regarding health professions; and
(F)  any other information relevant to the supply and demand of health care professionals;
(2)  prepare the strategic plan described by Section 104A.005; and
(3)  establish the work group described by Section 104A.006.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.005.  STRATEGIC PLAN.  (a)  The council shall examine the health professions in this state based on the information compiled under Section 104A.004(1) and biennially prepare a health professions strategic plan.  The plan must:
(1)  include a data analysis model demonstrating the supply, demand, production, and projected need for the next 10 years of the health professions workforce;
(2)  define targeted goals and objectives for the health professions workforce, including short-term and long-term strategies for each state agency participating in the council and local workforce planning agencies to build a thriving health care system;
(3)  identify immediate shortages in health professions;
(4)  define goals for this state to support the health care needs of a growing population;
(5)  examine this state's capacity to satisfy future health profession demands based on the existing education programs offered and current trends of interstate migration, attrition, and other relevant workforce factors;
(6)  propose recommendations to realign existing workforce and education programs;
(7)  propose the development of additional education programs for health professions that align with the long-term goals and projections identified in the plan; 
(8)  identify systemic causes of workforce shortages for health professions; and
(9)  inventory programs and services, including state funding amounts provided for workforce planning and preparation and for health professional education.
(b)  Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the council shall complete and publish on the council's Internet website the strategic plan described by Subsection (a).
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.006.  WORK GROUP.  (a)  The council shall establish a work group to examine the health professions and health care education programs that provide a gateway into a variety of health professions.  The work group consists of members of the council or their designees.
(b)  The work group shall:
(1)  identify sources for gathering information on gateway health professions; and
(2)  build a data analysis model to monitor the historical growth of gateway health professions.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.007.  NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  The council shall establish a nursing advisory committee to assist the council with its duties.  A majority of the members of the advisory committee must be nurses, and the advisory committee:
(1)  must include:
(A)  members of associations representing nurses, educators of nurses, and employers of nurses;
(B)  members representing the Texas Board of Nursing; and
(C)  at least one member who is a nurse researcher; and
(2)  may include other members who are public or private sector health care experts, nurses, nurse educators, employers of nurses, or consumers of nursing services.
(b)  The nursing advisory committee shall:
(1)  review policies governing data collection and reports published under Chapter 105 that relate to the nursing profession;
(2)  subject to approval of the council, develop priorities and an operations plan for the nursing resource section established under Section 105.002(b);  and
(3)  review reports and information before dissemination by the council.
(c)  A nurse member of the nursing advisory committee and a nurse member of the council shall co-chair the committee.
(d)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the nursing advisory committee formed under this section.
(e)  Meetings of the nursing advisory committee under this section are subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 104A.008.  DEPARTMENT AUTHORITY TO COLLECT DATA.  Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the collection of health care facility data by the department or a program the department administers in accordance with other law.
Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 3801), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.