Panel hears brief on Senate Bill 15-34 to study health-physics education and workforce needs
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Summary
Senate Bill 15-34 directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the workforce commission to study health-physics education and report back by Dec. 1, 2026; resource witnesses from THECB and TWC provided information and committee left the bill pending.
Senate Bill 15-34, presented by Dean Zafarini, would direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to conduct a study and report on health-physics education and workforce development in Texas, with findings and legislative recommendations due Dec. 1, 2026.
The bill’s author said current state authority allows agencies to conduct studies related to radiation control and waste management but does not address workforce development in health physics — the field focused on protecting people and the environment from radiation exposure. The author said health physicists “play a critical role in reactor operations, medical radiation applications, and environmental monitoring.” Resource witnesses from the Texas Workforce Commission and the THECB identified themselves and were available to answer committee questions.
The committee opened and closed public testimony after the resource witnesses spoke. The bill was left pending subject to the call of the chair.