By: Ortega H.B. No. 817
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on increasing the number of medical residency
programs, medical residents, and physicians practicing medical
specialties in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. STUDY ON MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AND MEDICAL
RESIDENTS. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
coordination with the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic
Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio, the Regional
Center for Health Workforce Studies at the Center for Health
Economics and Policy of The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio, and the Texas Medical Board, shall conduct a
study regarding increasing:
(1) the number of medical residency programs and
medical residents in this state; and
(2) the number of physicians practicing medical
specialties.
(b) The study must:
(1) examine the feasibility of using a percentage of
physician licensing fees to increase the number of medical
residency programs and medical residents in this state;
(2) put emphasis on, and recommend a plan of action
for, increasing the number of:
(A) medical residency programs and medical
residents in medically underserved areas of this state; and
(B) physicians practicing medical specialties
that are underrepresented in this state; and
(3) determine the number of medical residents that
obtain a license to practice medicine in this state on completion of
a medical residency program in this state.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2018, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall:
(1) report the results of the study to the governor,
the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives; and
(2) make available the raw data from the study to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, the House Committee on Public Health, and the
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may
accept gifts, grants, and donations of any kind from any source for
the purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act takes effect September
1, 2017.