Latest news with #SB378
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
On final day of session, Gov. Abbott vetoes Botox patient safety bill filed after KXAN investigation
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed legislation which aimed to enhance Botox patient safety and transparency Monday, calling the measure 'unnecessary and overly-burdensome' for business in Texas. Senate Bill 378 would have prohibited barbers, cosmetologists and estheticians from administering Botox and other injectables unless they were licensed or authorized to give the shots. The measure would also have given the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation more disciplinary authority over those professionals. 'The passage of SB 378 is a critical step that protects the public from unqualified individuals administering potentially dangerous injections. This common-sense legislation ensures cosmetologists and barbers are not performing injections without proper physician supervision,' the bill's author, Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, explained after the measure was sent to the governor on May 21. KXAN has reached out to Schwertner's office for comment after the veto. 'Texas should be removing barriers for small businesses and occupational licensees,' Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw said on the chamber floor Monday, reading the governor's written words verbatim. 'Senate Bill 378 by Schwertner does just the opposite by, among other things, prohibiting a licensed cosmetologist or barber from 'making an incision into the dermis, layer of a person's skin.' Barbers who nick a customer's neck during a straight razor shave should not fear the loss of their licenses as we work to make government more efficient and less intrusive for Texans and businesses.' While most of the governor's vetoes will be delivered after the session, SB 378's passage timeline required him to take action sooner or the bill would have gone into law without his signature. It is his first veto of a Senate bill this session. 'I disapprove of this bill,' Abbott wrote to Senators before sine die, the official end of the session. 'Since you remain gathered in regular session and continue to conduct formal business, I am delivering this disapproval message directly to you along with the unsigned official enrolled copy of the bill.' Schwertner told lawmakers earlier in the session there have been increased reports of 'Botox parties' which include unauthorized and unsafe injections to friends and family without proper supervision. RELATED: 'Botox party' bill heads to governor Schwertner previously shared with KXAN investigators that, by law, estheticians and cosmetologists can only perform injections, including Botox, under the authority of a physician. He added that while the Texas Medical Board has disciplinary authority over physicians who are authorizing the injections, there is no oversight when it comes to professionals including estheticians or cosmetologists who could be in violation. During a House committee hearing in April, lawmakers received nearly 50 written comments from many Texas estheticians and injectors opposing the legislation and sharing concerns about their businesses being impacted. KXAN INVESTIGATION: Backroom Botox a 'wild west' in Texas Patient protection advocates have been pushing for oversight in the growing industry. The legislation was filed after a KXAN investigation uncovered that anyone in Texas can become certified to do injections, including Botox. KXAN's 'Backroom Botox' investigation highlighted medical concerns after a Botox treatment led to an emergency in the back room of a local boutique in Dublin, a city north of Austin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Botox party' bill scheduled for House vote
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Proposed legislation to enhance patient safety and tighten Texas laws over who can administer Botox injections — and similar treatments — is scheduled for a vote Monday. After a vote of 12-0 in the Texas House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee on May 10, Senate Bill 378 moved out of that House committee without any amendments. SB 378 passed the Senate in late March and was heard by the House committee on April 29. It was initially left pending in the Texas House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee after receiving nearly 50 written comments, most of which opposed the legislation. The comments included several from estheticians and injectors concerned about their small businesses being impacted. RELATED: 'Botox party' bill step closer to becoming Texas law The bill, authored by State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, pushes for patient safety and transparency and would prohibit estheticians, cosmetologists and barbers from administering injections and using prescriptive medical devices unless they are legally licensed and authorized to perform the acts. The legislation was filed after a KXAN investigation uncovered that anyone in Texas can become certified to do injections, including Botox. In May, KXAN's 'Backroom Botox' investigation highlighted the need for patient safety after a Botox treatment led to a medical emergency in the back room of a local boutique in Dublin, a city north of Austin. KXAN INVESTIGATION: Backroom Botox a 'wild west' in Texas After KXAN's investigation, Schwertner told KXAN investigators previously there have been increased reports of 'Botox parties' which include unauthorized and unsafe injections to friends and family without proper supervision. According to the bill analysis, while the Texas Medical Board, or TMB, has disciplinary authority over physicians who are supposed to be authorizing the injections, current statute is 'silent' on both the TMB's and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's authority to pursue the licensed esthetician or cosmetologist who are in violation. RELATED: Texas pushes to tighten rules for Botox, similar Treatments The legislation would provide TDLR the authority to take disciplinary action against those administering unauthorized injections. KXAN will continue to update this story with any developments Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri bill aims to improve inmate care, security
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that looks to provide efficient care for inmates, improving the quality of life for those incarcerated in the state. Sponsored by State Senator Angela Mosley, SB 378 was passed earlier this month by the Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee. According to the bill's language, it will establish the 'Office of State Ombudsman for Inmates in the Custody of the Department of Corrections.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now SB 378 says that the Office will have the rights to monitor all decisions of the parole board, provide information to inmates, their families and representatives regarding their rights and establish a statewide reporting system that collects complaints received by the Department. Annual inspections of each Department facilities would be conducted by the Office, monitoring the security and safety of inmates. 'Upon completion of the inspection, the Office shall produce a public report, with information as provided in the act, on its website, and deliver the report to the Governor, Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Director of the Department of Corrections,' the bill reads. 'The Department shall then submit a report to the Office within 30 days of the Office's inspection report, which shall include a corrective action plan for each recommendation of the Office.' This bill, which was written in 2019, also seeks to be named after Larry Miller, a man who officials say was stabbed to death by two inmates while he was in custody at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri, on June 9, 2014. Watch out for this statewide poisonous plant this spring and summer Officials also said that there were no correctional officers around at the time of Miller's death. An Ombudsman—who will be appointed by the Governor—would oversee the 'Office of State Ombudsman for Inmates in the Custody of the Department of Corrections' if SB 378 is passed. The position will serve a six-year term. The appointed Ombudsman cannot be a current or former employee of the Department. They also cannot have a spouse, child or parent who is affiliated with the Department, according to the bill. If passed, SB 378's effective date looks to begin on Aug. 28, 2025. More information about the bill can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maui housing conversion endeavor stalls
An effort to help alleviate Maui's dire shortage of affordable housing by having a state agency acquire and convert commercial buildings to partial residential use has come up short at this year's Legislature but still might produce results. The plan, proposed via Senate Bill 378, recently stalled in the House and failed to meet a Thursday procedural deadline needed for passage this year. However, the idea put forth in the bill could still lead to new affordable housing that is less costly to produce while also adding vibrancy and historical character to communities 20 months after a wildfire in Lahaina destroyed around 3, 500 homes. 'Out of the tragedy has come the opportunity to be very bullish about the fact that when Lahaina is rebuilt we can take the opportunity to create housing where the jobs are going to be, ' said Sen. Angus McKelvey, who introduced the bill with six other backers. McKelvey, who lost his home in the fire, did not propose buying land zoned for commercial use in Lahaina, but believes property owners in the West Maui town could rebuild what they lost and include homes above businesses that return. 'What's old is new again, ' said McKelvey (D, West Maui-Maalaea-South Maui ). 'This was how our towns were built on Maui back in the plantation days.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. SB 378 advanced fairly deep into this year's legislative session without public opposition. Despite stalling, the bill is not completely dead because it could be passed in 2026 in the second half of the 2025-2026 biennium. There is also a view among some stakeholders that creating a law from SB 378 isn't necessary to realize the intent of the measure. The bill proposes to form a working group to identify commercial or mixed-use properties on Maui that a state agency could buy and partly turn into affordable housing. 'By locating housing near workplaces, redevelopment supports worker retention, fosters community connections, and alleviates traffic congestion, thereby improving overall quality of life, ' the bill states. 'Additionally, reusing existing structures reduces environmental and financial costs associated with new construction while expediting the delivery of housing options, as many units are already built and ready for conversion.' The working group under the bill would be led by the board chair of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp., a state agency that helps finance development of affordable housing. HHFDC's board chair would head the proposed seven-member panel. Other members would include the director of Maui County's Department of Housing, the president of the Realtors Association of Maui and two Maui County residents with expertise, respectively, in redevelopment and mixed-use property financing. Alice Lee, chair of the Maui County Council, endorsed SB 378 in written testimony. 'Following the 2023 Maui wildfires, there is an urgent need to develop housing in Maui County to ensure an adequate housing inventory for displaced residents and the broader community, ' Lee wrote. 'Mixed-use developments allow residents to live near where they work and access essential services, helping to create vibrant, sustainable communities while reducing traffic congestion.' The Maui Chamber of Commerce also expressed strong support, and encouraged lawmakers to have work proceed without delay. 'The Chamber recognizes the critical need for more housing and understands that many individuals prefer to live close to their workplaces, making mixed-use developments a mutually beneficial solution, ' the organization said in written testimony. 'In light of the severe housing shortage in both the State and Maui County, we fully support measures that promote, rather than hinder, the development of housing for our residents.' HHFDC Director Dean Minakami also supports the bill, and said in written testimony that the effort has the potential to expand Maui's supply of affordable housing. The agency has some experience acquiring commercial real estate for residential use on Maui under an effort that began before the wildfire and was altered to provide fire survivors with a place to live in 2024. This project also was directed by the Legislature, which in May 2023 appropriated funding for HHFDC to buy a former 175-room hotel in Kihei that in recent decades had been used as a Christian missionary training center. Initially, the intent was for HHFDC to acquire the former Maui Sun Hotel so that Maui County could convert the property to teacher housing, affordable workforce housing and prekindergarten classrooms after major renovations. Instead, HHFDC bought what was most recently known as Haggai Institute for $38 million and began housing wildfire survivors in August after completing renovations to what is now named Hale 'o La 'ie. SB 378 sought to have the working group submit recommendations by the end of this year ahead of being dissolved shortly thereafter. Senators on March 4 voted 25-0 to send the bill to the House of Representatives for consideration. On March 14 the House Committee on Housing voted 7-0 vote to send the bill to the House Finance Committee for consideration, though no further action was taken, which prevents the bill from passing this year.
