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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to physician shortage residency training programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter I-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I-1. CONTRACTS FOR PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE RESIDENCY |
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TRAINING PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 61.511. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Approved physician shortage residency training |
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program" means a graduate medical education program that: |
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(A) is operated by a medical school, licensed |
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hospital, or nonprofit corporation; and |
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(B) has been approved for training physicians in |
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a physician shortage area identified by the Physician Shortage |
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Residency Advisory Committee. |
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(2) "Medical school" means: |
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(A) a medical school that is part of The |
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University of Texas System, the Texas Tech University System, The |
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Texas A&M University System, or the University of North Texas |
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System; or |
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(B) the Baylor College of Medicine. |
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Sec. 61.512. CONTRACTS. The board may contract with a |
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medical school, licensed hospital, or nonprofit corporation for the |
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purpose of establishing and operating an approved physician |
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shortage residency training program and may compensate the medical |
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school, licensed hospital, or nonprofit corporation using a formula |
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that is approved by the board and based on the number of resident |
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physicians in the training program. |
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Sec. 61.513. RULES. The board shall adopt rules to |
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implement this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.514. DISBURSEMENTS. (a) Pursuant to a contract, |
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the board may disburse through the designated project director to a |
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medical school, licensed hospital, or nonprofit corporation funds |
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for the purpose of the graduate training of physicians in an |
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approved physician shortage residency training program. The |
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project director of the residency training program shall, in |
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accordance with board rules, make timely reports directly to the |
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board concerning the development and progress of the residency |
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training program. |
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(b) The board by contract may establish the method or manner |
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of the disbursement to the project director. |
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Sec. 61.515. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The Physician |
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Shortage Residency Advisory Committee consists of nine members as |
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follows: |
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(1) one member, appointed by the Texas Osteopathic |
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Medical Association, who must be a licensed physician; |
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(2) two members, appointed by the Texas Hospital |
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Association, who must be hospital administrators; |
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(3) two members, appointed by the Texas Medical |
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Association, who must be licensed physicians; |
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(4) one member representing the statewide health |
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coordinating council appointed by the presiding officer of the |
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council; and |
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(5) three members of the public appointed by the |
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governor. |
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(b) Each member serves a three-year term. Each member may |
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continue to serve after the expiration of the member's term until a |
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replacement for the member is appointed to the committee. |
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(c) The members of the committee serve without |
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compensation, but are entitled to be reimbursed by the board for |
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actual expenses incurred in the performance of duties as members of |
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the committee. |
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(d) The committee shall meet at least annually and as |
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otherwise requested by the board or called into meeting by the |
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presiding officer of the committee. |
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(e) The presiding officer of the committee is elected |
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annually by the members of the committee. |
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(f) The committee shall: |
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(1) review data from the statewide health coordinating |
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council and other resources to identify physician shortage areas in |
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this state; |
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(2) to assist the board, review applications for |
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approval and funding of physician shortage residency training |
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programs and related support programs; |
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(3) make recommendations to the board that relate to |
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the disbursement of funds under this subchapter and that are based |
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on the following criteria: |
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(A) whether a program would expand training |
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opportunities in medical specialty areas in which there is a |
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physician shortage in this state; |
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(B) whether a program would be located in a |
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medically underserved community in this state; |
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(C) whether a program is in a specialty area in |
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which a substantial number of graduates of medical schools have |
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left this state to pursue training in that specialty area; or |
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(D) whether a program would undertake innovative |
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approaches to residency training, such as extensive use of |
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ambulatory facilities or the creation of medical homes for |
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patients; and |
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(4) perform any other duties as may be directed by the |
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board. |
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Sec. 61.516. FUNDING. The board may: |
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(1) receive and expend appropriations for purposes of |
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this subchapter, including funds generated by fees charged under |
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Chapter 153, Occupations Code, in excess of the amount needed for |
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the purposes authorized by Section 153.052(b), Occupations Code; |
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and |
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(2) accept gifts, grants, and donations of real or |
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personal property from any entity, subject to limitations or |
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conditions set by law, for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 61, |
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Education Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. CONTRACTS FOR FAMILY PRACTICE [MEDICAL] RESIDENCY |
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PROGRAMS |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules to implement Subchapter I-1, Chapter 61, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, |
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2012. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |