84R2079 JSL-F
By: Nelson S.B. No. 56
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the resident physician expansion grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 61.511(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (j),
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The board shall administer the Resident Physician
Expansion Grant Program [as a competitive grant program] to
encourage the creation of new graduate medical education positions
through community collaboration and innovative funding. The board
shall award grants to new or existing physician residency programs
at teaching hospitals and other appropriate health care entities
according to the program criteria established under Subsections (b)
and (i).
(c) The board may provide grants only to support a residency
position that:
(1) is created and accredited on or after July
[January] 1, 2016 [2014]; or
(2) was created and accredited before July [January]
1, 2015 [2013], but as of that date had not yet been filled.
(d) A grant award may be used only to pay direct costs
associated with the position, including the creation and
maintenance of the position and the salary of the resident
physician.
(e) Each grant application must specify:
(1) the number of residency positions expected to be
created or maintained with the grant money; and
(2) the grant amount requested for each year.
(f) The board by rule shall ensure that [award] grants are
awarded for each [all] residency position for which a grant was
[positions] awarded [a grant under this section] in the preceding
year [before awarding a grant for a residency position that did not
receive a grant in the preceding year], until the resident in that
position in the preceding year has completed the requirements of
the position and provided that the applicable grant recipient from
the preceding year complies with all conditions of the grant as
described by Subsection (g).
(j) Not later than March [January] 1 of each even-numbered
year, the board shall prepare and submit to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
with responsibility for oversight of health and human services
issues, and the Legislative Budget Board a report that:
(1) specifies each of the following with respect to
the preceding program year:
(A) the number of grants awarded under the
program;
(B) the amount of each grant awarded under the
program;
(C) the number of residency positions created
with the support of grant money;
(D) the medical specialty of the residency
positions created; and
(E) whether physicians who complete their
training through residency positions created under the program
choose to practice in this state and which medical specialties they
choose for their practices; and
(2) makes appropriate recommendations for legislative
changes as necessary.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.