85R7275 KEL-D
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2478
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an innovation grant program to support residency
training programs in psychiatric specialty fields.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 58A, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 58A.071. PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT
PROGRAM. Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an
innovation grant program under which the board awards incentive
payments to medical schools that administer innovative residency
training programs designed to increase the number of physicians in
this state who specialize in pediatric or adult psychiatric care.
Sec. 58A.072. FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
DONATIONS. In addition to other money appropriated by the
legislature, for the purpose of promoting pediatric or adult
psychiatric care under the program established under this
subchapter the board:
(1) shall first seek and apply for any available
federal funds; and
(2) after determining in a program year the state's
eligibility for funds described by Subdivision (1), may solicit and
accept gifts, grants, and donations from any other source, public
or private, as necessary to ensure effective implementation of the
program.
Sec. 58A.073. RULES. In consultation with each medical
school in this state, the board shall adopt rules for the
administration of the program established under this
subchapter. The rules must include:
(1) administrative provisions relating to the
awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:
(A) eligibility criteria for medical schools;
(B) grant application procedures;
(C) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(D) procedures for evaluating grant
applications; and
(E) procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
and
(2) methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants
that:
(A) using data reasonably available to the board,
consider relevant information regarding the career paths of medical
school graduates during the four-year period following their
graduation; and
(B) evaluate whether and for how long those
graduates practice in a psychiatric specialty field in this state.
Sec. 58A.074. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) In awarding grants
under the program, the board shall award:
(1) 60 percent of the amount available in each program
year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
train physicians to specialize in pediatric psychiatric care; and
(2) 40 percent of the amount available in each program
year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
train physicians to specialize in adult psychiatric care.
(b) Within each category of grants prescribed by Subsection
(a), the board shall give priority to grants to medical schools with
innovative residency programs based in rural or underserved areas.
Sec. 58A.075. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. A reasonable amount,
not to exceed three percent, of any money appropriated for purposes
of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the costs of
administering this subchapter.
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
innovation grant program established under Subchapter D, Chapter
58A, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall establish the innovation grant
program required by Subchapter D, Chapter 58A, Education Code, as
added by this Act, and shall begin to award grants under the program
as soon as practicable after the program is established.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.