Texas Capitol - Legislative Research Internship

The Office of Texas State Representative Elizabeth Campos is recruiting interns who will serve as research assistants during the 2022 Legislative Interim Session (9/01/22 – 12/31/2022). As a member of the Committee on Public Health and Committee on Urban Affairs, Representative Campos has been assigned interim charges. These charges reflect a variety of issues facing the state and build upon the work accomplished during the most recent legislative sessions. The charges will help guide the House heading into the 88th Legislature, set to begin in 2023, as committees gain input from Texans, research potential legislative solutions and recommend policies to the full House chamber. Public Health Committee Internship Research Subjects 1. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature, including HB 4, relating to the provision and delivery of telemedicine and telehealth services and HB 1616, relating to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. 2. Complete study of assigned charges related to the Texas-Mexico border issued in June 2021. 3. Study the impact of fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths in Texas. 4. Study current telemedicine trends by assessing and making recommendations related to standardizing required documentation healthcare providers must obtain for consent for treatment, data collection, sharing and retention schedules, and providing telemedicine medical services to certain cancer patients receiving pain management services and supportive palliative care. 5. Examine existing resources and available opportunities to strengthen the state’s nursing and other health professional workforce, including rural physicians and nurses. 6. Assess ongoing challenges in the rural health care system and the impact of legislation and funding from the 87th regular and special sessions on strengthening rural health care and the sustainability of rural hospitals and health care providers. Urban Affairs Committee Internship Research Subjects 1. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation. 2. Evaluate the availability of workforce housing to support the economic growth of the state. 3. Review the Municipal Management District Legislative Template with respect to representation and accountability. Make recommendations for improving the template. 4. Study the effects of local governance, planning, and administration on the current state of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure. Examine the measures municipally owned utilities have taken and the costs required to maintain and improve that infrastructure. Make recommendations for cost-effective solutions to ensure reliable infrastructure and uninterrupted municipal utility services, especially during a severe weather event. 5. Study municipal fees with respect to the function of the fee and the relationship of the fee to the cost of providing an associated municipal service.