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2022 SESSION

22106295D
HOUSE BILL NO. 191
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations
on February 9, 2022)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Hodges)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 2.2 a chapter numbered 4.5, consisting of a section numbered 2.2-450, and by adding a section numbered § 2.2-2240.7, relating to health workforce development; Special Advisor to the Governor for Health Workforce Development; Virginia Health Workforce Development Fund.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 2.2 a chapter numbered 4.5, consisting of a section numbered 2.2-450, and by adding a section numbered § 2.2-2240.7 as follows:

CHAPTER 4.5.
SPECIAL ADVISOR FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

§ 2.2-450. Special Advisor to the Governor for Health Workforce Development.

The position of Special Advisor to the Governor for Health Workforce Development (the Special Advisor) is hereby created. The Special Advisor shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be responsible for coordinating and aligning efforts in collaboration with the Secretaries of Commerce and Trade, Health and Human Resources, and Labor to (i) expand the health workforce in the Commonwealth by supporting the coordination of education, training, recruitment, and incentive programs designed to improve staff retention and build Virginia's health workforce; (ii) address regulatory, payment, and other issues that negatively impact recruitment and retention of health workers in critical practice areas, including behavioral health, developmental services, nursing, and public health; (iii) develop a strategy to address the behavioral health safety net workforce shortage in the Commonwealth; and (iv) oversee the Virginia Health Workforce Development Fund established by § 2.2-2240.7. The Special Advisor shall be a part of the Commerce and Trade Secretariat and shall support the objectives and programs of the Secretariats of Commerce and Trade, Health and Human Resources, and Labor.

§ 2.2-2240.7. Virginia Health Workforce Development Fund.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Health Workforce Development Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of (i) providing incentives for the removal of barriers to educating and training health workforce professionals that include increasing eligible faculty, clinical placements, and residencies; (ii) incentivizing the production of health workforce credentials, degrees, and licensures based on a rigorous analysis of the need by the Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment; (iii) addressing regulatory barriers to entering into and staying in health professions; and (iv) providing education and training for health and health science professionals to align education and training initiatives with existing and evolving health workforce needs. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Chief Executive Officer or his designee. For purposes of this section, "health workforce" shall include workers in the field of behavioral health.

B. The Authority shall establish a process for the issuance of grants to regional health and health science workforce development initiatives established to meet regional health and health science workforce needs by developing and supporting targeted initiatives to address unique regional needs related to health and health science workforce education, training, recruitment, and retention and fulfill the purposes enumerated in subsection A.

2. That the provisions of this act shall expire on July 1, 2026.

3. That the Special Advisor to the Governor for Health Workforce Development established by this act shall, in addition to any other powers and duties, review and evaluate the structure and organization of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority established by § 32.1-122.7 of the Code of Virginia and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on the long-term administrative structure and funding of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority on or before November 1, 2022.