By: Guerra, Muñoz, Jr., Gamez, Longoria, H.B. No. 2171
Canales, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Center for Rural Health
Education at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 79, Education Code, is amended by adding
Section 79.11 to read as follows:
Sec. 79.11. TEXAS CENTER FOR RURAL HEALTH EDUCATION. (a)
In this section, "center" means the Texas Center for Rural Health
Education.
(b) The Texas Center for Rural Health Education is
established at the university.
(c) The organization, control, and management of the center
are vested in the board.
(d) Subject to the availability of money appropriated,
gifted, or granted for the purposes of the center, the center shall:
(1) perform an initial assessment of rural health
education in this state;
(2) develop appropriate performance metrics to
measure improvement in rural health education and health care
outcomes;
(3) conduct research regarding rural health
education, including research to identify:
(A) best practices in rural health education; and
(B) underserved rural areas;
(4) develop recommendations regarding the allocation
of funding for tuition and loan repayment programs available to
rural health care professionals;
(5) develop partnerships between high schools,
postsecondary institutions of higher education, and local medical
systems to recruit, train, and retain health care professionals to
serve in underserved rural areas;
(6) develop a plan to improve rural health education
and health care outcomes; and
(7) develop and maintain an Internet website that
provides information regarding rural health education research and
resources.
(e) Subject to the availability of money appropriated,
gifted, or granted for the purposes of the center, not later than
December 1 of each even-numbered year, the center shall submit to
the legislature a report on rural health education and health care
outcomes in this state. The report must include a summary of the
center's activities under Subsection (d) and any recommendations
for legislative or other action.
(f) The university shall encourage public or private
entities to participate in or support the operation of the center
and may enter into an agreement with any public or private entity
for that purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide
information, services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange
for the entity's participation or support.
(g) The board may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and
grants from any public or private source for the purposes of the
center.
(h) The board may employ personnel for the center as
necessary.
(i) The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement this
section.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas Center
for Rural Health Education shall submit to the legislature the
first biennial report required under Section 79.11, Education Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.