89R8674 LRM-D
By: Lalani H.B. No. 2299
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a community health clinic grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
designating Section 64.001 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter
heading to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER A. TEACHING HOSPITAL ACCOUNT
SECTION 2. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B. COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 64.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Community health clinic" means a
community-driven, nonprofit health clinic located in a medically
underserved area or serving populations that are medically
underserved. The term includes a community health center and a
federally qualified health center, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section
1396d(l)(2)(B).
(2) "Grant program" means the community health clinic
grant program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 64.052. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT
PROGRAM. The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and
the commission shall administer a community health clinic grant
program to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes,
reduce health disparities, and achieve health equity in medically
underserved areas of this state by:
(1) improving the provision of preventative care,
screening, and treatment for chronic health conditions, including
diabetes, hypertension, and obesity; and
(2) strengthening the availability and capacity of
community health clinics to provide affordable, high-quality
health care services to medically underserved individuals.
Sec. 64.053. APPLICATION. A community health clinic may
apply to the commission to receive money under the grant program if
the clinic:
(1) is located in a county with a population of 800,000
or more, adjacent to a county with a population of 4 million or
more; and
(2) either:
(A) operates in a medically underserved area of
the county; or
(B) serves a medically underserved population in
the county.
Sec. 64.054. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) The executive
commissioner by rule shall establish eligibility criteria and a
scoring system for the commission to award grants under the grant
program.
(b) The commission may award grants under the grant program
to eligible applicants.
Sec. 64.055. USE OF GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient may use
money awarded under the grant program only for the purposes
described by Section 64.052. The executive commissioner shall
adopt rules governing the use of money awarded under the grant
program.
Sec. 64.056. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall award
grants as provided by this subchapter using money appropriated to
the commission for that purpose.
(b) Out of money appropriated to the commission that is
available for the purpose, the commission shall allocate $200
million each fiscal biennium to award grants under this subchapter.
Sec. 64.057. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt
rules necessary to implement and administer this subchapter.
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
adopt the rules necessary to implement Subchapter B, Chapter 64,
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.