By: Schwertner, West S.B. No. 295 Zaffirini A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to tracking career information for graduates of Texas medical schools and persons completing medical residency programs in Texas. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0906 to read as follows: Sec. 61.0906. TRACKING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL TRAINING AND PRACTICE CHOICES. (a) The board by rule shall establish a system under which the board acquires and maintains data regarding the initial residency program choices made by graduates of medical schools in this state and the initial practice choices made by persons completing medical residency programs in this state. The tracking system must: (1) use any data reasonably available to the board, including data maintained by or accessible to medical schools or residency programs in this state; and (2) with respect to a person who completes a medical residency program in this state, collect relevant information for the two-year period following completion of that program. (b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), relevant information includes: (1) whether and for how long physicians who complete medical residency programs in this state work in primary care in this state and which medical specialties they report as their primary medical practice; and (2) the locations of the practices established by those persons. SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the tracking system established under Section 61.0906, Education Code, as added by this Act. The board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules. (b) Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall establish the tracking system required by Section 61.0906, Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.