Relating to training required or offered by the Health and Human Services Commission for long-term care facility surveyors, personnel, and providers and ICF-IID program providers.
Summary
HB 2358 is a Texas health and human services bill focused on training related to long-term care facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID). The bill repeals several existing statutory provisions that required or governed training by the Health and Human Services Commission for long-term care facility surveyors, personnel, providers, and ICF-IID program providers. In effect, it removes those specific statutory training mandates from the Health and Safety Code and Human Resources Code.
The bill does not create a new training program or add new substantive requirements in the text provided; instead, it eliminates prior provisions tied to HHSC training authority or obligations. It became effective immediately after passage, indicating it was treated as an enacted change to current regulatory structure rather than a delayed policy shift.
Impact
HB 2358 amends Texas law by repealing Section 247.066(h) and Section 533A.066 of the Health and Safety Code, along with Sections 22.039(b-1) and (b-2) of the Human Resources Code. Those repeals affect HHSC-related training requirements for surveyors, facility personnel, providers, and ICF-IID program providers, likely reducing or removing statutory training directives in those areas. The practical impact is on the regulatory framework governing long-term care oversight and provider training, with effects on HHSC, facility operators, surveyors, and related care providers.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported. It passed the House by a large margin and the Senate unanimously, suggesting little organized opposition in the recorded votes. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into debate, but the voting history indicates the measure was viewed as a routine or noncontroversial administrative change.
Contention
There is no recorded committee discussion in the provided materials, and the floor votes show minimal opposition. The only notable point of contention visible from the vote history is that a small number of House members voted no on final passage, which may indicate concern about repealing training-related protections or uncertainty about the effect on oversight. However, no specific opposing arguments are available in the supplied record.
Relating to access to criminal history record information that relates to providers and provider applicants under Medicaid and other public benefits programs administered by the Health and Human Services Commission.
Relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for first responders, disclosure of human trafficking information by certain health care facilities, and protection for facility employees who report human trafficking.
Relating to human trafficking prevention, including training for medical assistants, disclosure of human trafficking information by certain health care facilities, and protection for facility employees who report human trafficking.
Relating to access to criminal history record information that relates to providers and provider applicants under Medicaid and other public benefits programs administered by the Health and Human Services Commission.