CHAPTER 48. TRAINING AND REGULATION OF PROMOTORAS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS - Texas Statutes

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 2. HEALTH

SUBTITLE B. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROGRAMS

CHAPTER 48. TRAINING AND REGULATION OF PROMOTORAS AND COMMUNITY

HEALTH WORKERS

Sec. 48.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Compensation" includes receiving payment or receiving

reimbursement for expenses.

(2) "Promotora" or "community health worker" means a person who,

with or without compensation, provides a liaison between health

care providers and patients through activities that may include

activities such as assisting in case conferences, providing

patient education, making referrals to health and social

services, conducting needs assessments, distributing surveys to

identify barriers to health care delivery, making home visits,

and providing bilingual language services.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 857, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1,

1999. Renumbered from Sec. 46.001 and amended by Acts 2001, 77th

Leg., ch. 946, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001 and Acts 2001, 77th

Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(72), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 48.002. PROMOTORA AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAINING

PROGRAM. (a) The department shall establish and operate a

program designed to train and educate persons who act as

promotoras or community health workers. In establishing the

training program, the department, to the extent possible, shall

consider the report and any findings of and implement any

applicable recommendations of the Promotora Program Development

Committee.

(b) Participation in a training and education program

established under this section is voluntary for a promotora or

community health worker who provides services without receiving

any compensation and mandatory for a promotora or community

health worker who provides services for compensation. The board

may adopt rules to exempt a promotora or community health worker

from mandatory training who has served for three or more years or

who has 1,000 or more hours of experience.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 857, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1,

1999. Renumbered from Sec. 46.002 and amended by Acts 2001, 77th

Leg., ch. 946, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001 and Acts 2001, 77th

Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(72), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 48.003. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR PROMOTORAS AND COMMUNITY

HEALTH WORKERS. (a) The department shall establish and operate

a certification program for persons who act as promotoras or

community health workers. In establishing the program, the board

shall adopt rules that provide minimum standards and guidelines,

including participation in the training and education program

under Section 48.002, for issuance of a certificate to a person

under this section. In adopting the minimum standards and

guidelines, the board shall consider the report and any findings

of and adopt any applicable recommendations of the Promotora

Program Development Committee.

(b) Receipt of a certificate issued under this section may not

be a requirement for a person to act as a promotora or community

health worker without receiving any compensation and is a

requirement for a person to act as a promotora or community

health worker for compensation.

(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall require

health and human services agencies to use certified promotoras to

the extent possible in health outreach and education programs for

recipients of medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human

Resources Code.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 857, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1,

1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 729, Sec. 1, eff.

Sept. 1, 2001. Renumbered from Sec. 46.003 and amended by Acts

2001, 77th Leg., ch. 946, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001,

77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(72) and 21.002(8), eff. Sept. 1,

2001.