Bill > SB2891

This bill establishes the Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council (HPWCC), a new state-level body designed to strategically address healthcare workforce needs in Texas. The council will be composed of representatives from various state agencies and healthcare boards, plus four additional members appointed by the governor, with a focus on studying and developing approaches to ensure a robust healthcare system. The council's primary responsibilities include compiling comprehensive workforce data from state agencies, preparing a biennial strategic plan that analyzes health profession supply and demand for the next 10 years, identifying workforce shortages, proposing recommendations for education and workforce program realignment, and establishing a work group to examine gateway health professions. Additionally, the bill creates a nursing advisory committee within the council to provide specialized insights into nursing-related workforce issues. The legislation simultaneously abolishes the existing statewide health coordinating council and its nursing advisory committee, transferring their functions and unexpended funds to the new HPWCC. The bill mandates that the first council members be appointed by October 1, 2025, with the initial strategic plan to be published by October 1, 2026, and will take effect on September 1, 2025, marking a significant restructuring of Texas's approach to healthcare workforce planning.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2891