HBA-BSM H.B. 3469 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3469
By: McClendon
Higher Education
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is a shortage of physicians in the rural areas of Texas
while the need for medical services in Texas is increasing.  Almost 16
percent of the Texas population resides in rural areas of the state, and
approximately 56,000 people live in counties without a primary care
physician.  There is  approximately one primary care physician for every
700 people in the state, but in rural areas the ratio is approximately one
physician for every 1,300 people.  The physician shortage in rural areas
may be attributed  to the generally lower wages physicians receive in rural
areas.   The establishment of a medical school at Prairie View A&M
University could help to address this critical health need.  House Bill
3469 establishes a medical school at Prairie View A&M University. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the board of regents of The Texas A&M
University System in SECTION 2 of this bill.  

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3469 requires the board of regents (board) of The Texas A&M
University System to establish and maintain the Prairie View A&M Medical
School (medical school).  The bill authorizes the board of regents to
prescribe courses leading to customary degrees offered in other leading
American medical schools.  The bill authorizes the board to make rules and
regulations for the operation, control, and management of the medical
school.  The bill authorizes the board to enter into affiliation or
coordinating agreement with any institution or entity to make joint
appointments to other institutions in The Texas A&M University System.  The
bill establishes the medical school account as a separate account in the
general revenue fund and  provides that the fund may only be used to
establish and maintain the medical school.  
The bill requires the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to determine whether
a local exchange company is imposing switched access rates on a combined
originating and terminating basis that are in excess of the rates allowed
for recovery of switched access revenue.  If the PUC makes that
determination, the local exchange company is required to deposit an amount
equal to the excess amount into the medical school account.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.