| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to continuing education requirements for surgical technologists.
According to the Legislative Budget Board, no fiscal impact to the state is implicated.
Chapter 259 of the Health and Safety Code provides that if a health care facility is unable to employ enough qualified surgical technologists after a diligent and thorough effort, it can hire an individual who does not meet these requirements. Currently, non-certified surgical technologists hired under this exception do not have continuing education requirements.
HB 1748 would extend the continuing education requirements that currently apply to certified surgical technologists to non-certified surgical technologists (30 hours completed every two years). Also, a health care facility may restrict the abilities of a surgical technologist who does not complete the continuing education requirements. The continuing education requirements are the sole responsibility of the surgical technologists, and not their employers.
Texas Action remains neutral on HB 1748 because it does not affect our liberty principles.