H.B. No. 1697

	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of a pediatric health
	tele-connectivity resource program for rural Texas.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle I, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
	by adding Chapter 541 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 541.  PEDIATRIC TELE-CONNECTIVITY RESOURCE PROGRAM FOR
	RURAL TEXAS
	Sec. 541.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1)  "Nonurban health care facility" means a hospital
	licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or other
	licensed health care facility in this state that is located in a
	rural area as defined by Section 845.002, Insurance Code.
	(2)  "Pediatric specialist" means a physician who is
	certified in general pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics
	or American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics.
	(3)  "Pediatric subspecialist" means a physician who is
	certified in a pediatric subspecialty by a member board of the
	American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic Board
	of Pediatrics.
	(4)  "Pediatric tele-specialty provider" means a
	pediatric health care facility in this state that offers continuous
	access to telemedicine medical services provided by pediatric
	subspecialists.
	(5)  "Physician" means a person licensed to practice
	medicine in this state.
	(6)  "Program" means the pediatric tele-connectivity
	resource program for rural Texas established under this chapter.
	(7)  "Telemedicine medical services" means health care
	services delivered to a patient:
	(A)  by a physician acting within the scope of the
	physician's license or a health professional acting under the
	delegation and supervision of a physician and within the scope of
	the health professional's license;
	(B)  from a physical location that is different
	from the patient's location; and
	(C)  using telecommunications or information
	technology.
	Sec. 541.002.  PEDIATRIC TELE-CONNECTIVITY RESOURCE PROGRAM
	FOR RURAL TEXAS. The commission with any necessary assistance of
	pediatric tele-specialty providers shall establish a pediatric
	tele-connectivity resource program for rural Texas to award grants
	to nonurban health care facilities to connect the facilities with
	pediatric specialists and pediatric subspecialists who provide
	telemedicine medical services.
	Sec. 541.003.  USE OF GRANT. A nonurban health care facility
	awarded a grant under this chapter may use grant money to:
	(1)  purchase equipment necessary for implementing a
	telemedicine medical service;
	(2)  modernize the facility's information technology
	infrastructure and secure information technology support to ensure
	an uninterrupted two-way video signal that is compliant with the
	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub.
	L. No. 104-191);
	(3)  pay a service fee to a pediatric tele-specialty
	provider under an annual contract with the provider; or
	(4)  pay for other activities, services, supplies,
	facilities, resources, and equipment the commission determines
	necessary for the facility to use a telemedicine medical service.
	Sec. 541.004.  SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS. (a)  The
	commission with any necessary assistance of pediatric
	tele-specialty providers may select an eligible nonurban health
	care facility to receive a grant under this chapter.
	(b)  To be eligible for a grant under this chapter, a
	nonurban health care facility must have:
	(1)  a quality assurance program that measures the
	compliance of the facility's health care providers with the
	facility's medical protocols;
	(2)  on staff at least one full-time equivalent
	physician who has training and experience in pediatrics and one
	person who is responsible for ongoing nursery and neonatal support
	and care;
	(3)  a designated neonatal intensive care unit or an
	emergency department;
	(4)  a commitment to obtaining neonatal or pediatric
	education from a tertiary facility to expand the facility's depth
	and breadth of telemedicine medical service capabilities; and
	(5)  the capability of maintaining records and
	producing reports that measure the effectiveness of a grant
	received by the facility under this chapter.
	Sec. 541.005.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a)  The
	commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from
	any public or private source for the purposes of this chapter.
	(b)  A political subdivision that participates in the
	program may pay part of the costs of the program.
	Sec. 541.006.  WORK GROUP. (a)  The commission may establish
	a program work group to:
	(1)  assist the commission with developing,
	implementing, or evaluating the program; and
	(2)  prepare a report on the results and outcomes of the
	grants awarded under this chapter.
	(b)  A member of a program work group established under this
	section is not entitled to compensation for serving on the program
	work group and may not be reimbursed for travel or other expenses
	incurred while conducting the business of the program work group.
	(c)  A program work group established under this section is
	not subject to Chapter 2110.
	Sec. 541.007.  REPORT TO GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE. Not
	later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission
	shall submit a report to the governor and members of the legislature
	regarding the activities of the program and grant recipients,
	including the results and outcomes of grants awarded under this
	chapter.
	Sec. 541.008.  RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt
	rules necessary to implement this chapter.
	Sec. 541.009.  SPECIFIC APPROPRIATION REQUIRED. The
	commission may not spend state funds to accomplish the purposes of
	this chapter and is not required to award a grant under this chapter
	unless money is appropriated for the purposes of this chapter.
	SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2017, the Health and
	Human Services Commission shall establish and implement the
	pediatric tele-connectivity resource program for rural Texas
	authorized by Chapter 541, Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2018, the Health and
	Human Services Commission shall provide the initial report to the
	governor and the legislature as required by Section 541.007,
	Government Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
	a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
	federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
	the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
	authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
	waiver or authorization is granted.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1697 was passed by the House on April
	6, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 5, 1 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 1697 on May 19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 1,
	1 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1697 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 12, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
	0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor