81R1456 EAH-D
By: Anchia H.B. No. 281
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to grants for school-based health centers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 38.063, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) and adding
Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
(a) Subject to the availability of federal or state
appropriated funds, the commissioner of state [public] health
services shall administer a program under which grants are awarded
to assist school districts and local health departments, hospitals,
or nonprofit organizations that contract with school districts with
the costs of [operating] school-based health centers in accordance
with this section.
(b) The commissioner of state [public] health services, by
rules adopted in accordance with this section, shall establish
procedures for awarding grants. The rules must provide that:
(1) grants are awarded annually [to school districts
on an annual basis] through a competitive process to:
(A) school districts; and
(B) local health departments, hospitals, or
nonprofit organizations that have contracted with school districts
to establish and operate school-based health centers;
(2) subject to the availability of federal or state
appropriated funds, each grant is for a term of five years; and
(3) a preference is given to school-based health
centers in school districts that are located in rural areas or that
have low property wealth per student.
(d) A school district, local health department, hospital,
or nonprofit organization may not receive more than $250,000 per
state fiscal biennium through grants awarded under this section.
(e) To be eligible to receive a grant, a school district,
local health department, hospital, or nonprofit organization must
provide matching funds in accordance with rules adopted under
Subsection (b). The matching funds may be obtained from any source
available to the district, local health department, hospital, or
nonprofit organization, including in-kind contributions, community
or foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
governmental agency operating funds.
(e-1) A school district, local health department, hospital,
or nonprofit organization receiving a grant under this section may
use the grant funds to:
(1) establish a new school-based health center;
(2) expand an existing school-based health center; or
(3) operate a school-based health center.
(f) The commissioner of state [public] health services
shall adopt rules establishing standards for health care centers
funded through grants that place primary emphasis on delivery of
health services and secondary emphasis on population-based models
that prevent emerging health threats.
(g) The commissioner of state [public] health services
shall require client surveys to be conducted in school-based health
centers funded through grants awarded under this section, and the
results of those surveys must be included in the annual report
required under Section 38.064.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.