FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reported from the Special Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety April 5, 2007 with recommendation that House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 450 Do Pass. Referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to Rule 25(21)(f).
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 620, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Missouri health profession shortage planning commission.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 620, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 620.510, to read as follows:
620.510. 1. There is hereby established the "Missouri Health Profession Shortage Planning Commission" within the department of economic development to develop recommendations regarding the health professions workforce in this state.
2. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Economic cluster", a grouping of industries linked together through customer, supplier, or other relationships.
(2) "Health professions workforce" and "health care professionals", professionals or paraprofessionals who are qualified by special training, education, skills, and experience in providing health care, treatment, diagnostic services, and physical therapy under the supervision of or in collaboration with a licensed practitioner, and includes but is not limited to those listed in chapters 332, 334, 335, 336, and 338, RSMo, and dentists and pharmacists.
3. The commission shall consist of the following members:
(1) A member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2) A member appointed by the president pro tem of the senate;
(3) A member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
(4) A member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(5) The director of the departments of health and senior services, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of the coordinating board of higher education, or their designees;
(6) The chairpersons and ranking members of the standing committees of the house of representatives and senate having cognizance of matters relating to public health, secondary education, and higher education and employment advancement, or their designees;
(7) A representative of the Missouri conference of community colleges; and
(8) A representative of the health care professions of the land grant university system training health care professionals.
Members appointed under this section shall be a recognized expert in the field of health, finance, economics, or health facility management. All appointments to the board shall be made no later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. The term of each nonlegislative member of the commission shall be three years from the date of appointment. Legislative members of the commission shall serve for the duration of their current term of office.
4. The commission shall elect a chairperson from among its members. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission. The commission shall convene its first meeting not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
5. The commission shall:
(1) Monitor data and trends in the health professions workforce, including but not limited to:
(a) The state's current and future supply and demand for health care professionals; and
(b) The current and future capacity of the state system area career centers and two-year and four-year institutions of higher education to educate and train students pursuing health care professions, and the capacity to utilize distance education in training and education of high school professionals;
(2) Develop recommendations for the formation and promotion of an economic cluster for health care professions;
(3) Identify recruitment and retention strategies for public and independent institutions of higher education with health care programs;
(4) Develop recommendations for promoting diversity in the health professions workforce, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, and gender diversity and for enhancing the attractiveness of health care professions;
(5) Develop recommendations regarding financial and other assistance to students enrolled in or considering enrolling in health care programs offered at area career centers public or private two-year and four-year institutions of higher education; and
(6) Identify recruitment and retention strategies for health care employers.
6. On or before January 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations, including recommendations for legislation to address health professions workforce shortages in this state to the appropriate standing committees of the house of representatives and senate having cognizance of matters relating to public health and secondary education and higher education and employment advancement.
•