By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1963
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's authority
to contract with federal agencies to provide healthcare to
veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 74, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 741.761 to read as follows:
Sec. 74.761. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PATIENTS. (a) The
medical school may enter into one or more contracts with the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") to provide medical and mental
health treatment to residents of the county or service area who are
otherwise eligible for the VA's health care assistance.
(b) The medical school is encouraged to contribute money,
property, and other resources to establish, maintain, and operate a
veteran's hospital or provide medical and mental health care to
area veterans in accordance with Section 73, Article XVI, Texas
Constitution.
(c) In complying with this section, the medical school may
prioritize medical and mental health services that eliminate access
to care issues and reduce wait times by providing an increased level
of inpatient and outpatient care for veterans:
(1)who would be forced to travel more than 200 miles for
healthcare; or
(2)who cannot access specialty or primary care in the
service area.
(d) To the extent possible, the medical school must spread
any available medical and mental health care for veterans
throughout the service region.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all 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, 2015.