89R4603 CMO-F
By: Simmons H.B. No. 1881
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding establishing a public medical school
as a professional school of Texas Southern University.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. FEASIBILITY STUDY. (a) The president of Texas
Southern University shall designate a department or entity at the
university to conduct a study to examine the need for and
feasibility of establishing a school of medicine as a professional
school of Texas Southern University. The department or entity may
seek the assistance of outside experts or consultants, as
necessary.
(b) The study must:
(1) assess the need for establishing an institution
described by Subsection (a) of this section;
(2) include a financial plan for establishing an
institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including
the cost associated with establishing the institution;
(3) examine the feasibility of establishing an
institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including
the projected timeline for accreditation of the institution; and
(4) assess how Texas Southern University, when
compared to other public universities in this state, is better
suited to develop programs to address the following issues as they
appear in urban areas of this state:
(A) gaps in health care affecting urban
populations;
(B) ease of access to health care in different
locations of an urban area;
(C) disparities in the health of various
populations in an urban area;
(D) maternal mortality; and
(E) any other medical issue affecting the
provision of health care in urban areas of this state.
SECTION 2. REPORT. (a) The department or entity at Texas
Southern University designated to conduct the study under Section 1
of this Act shall prepare a written report summarizing the results
of the study. The report must also:
(1) identify the challenges related to establishing a
school of medicine as a professional school of Texas Southern
University;
(2) include recommendations for legislative or other
action; and
(3) include any other matter the department or entity
considers appropriate.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2026, the department or
entity described by Subsection (a) of this section shall submit the
report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
SECTION 3. FUNDING. The department or entity at Texas
Southern University designated to conduct the study under Section 1
of this Act may use money appropriated by the legislature or
otherwise available for the purpose to pay for any costs associated
with conducting the study and with preparing the report required by
Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2026.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2025.