HBA-SEP S.B. 514 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 514
By: Truan
Public Health
5/14/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the executive committee of the Center for Rural Health
Initiatives (committee) is required to increase the number of physicians
providing primary care in medically underserved communities through the
medically underserved community-state matching incentive program (program).
However, Texas is experiencing a shortage of many health care
professionals, including pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, and
registered nurses.  Extending the program to include other health care
professionals and federally qualified health centers may ameliorate this
shortage.  Senate Bill 514  provides this extension.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the executive committee of the Center
for Rural Health Initiatives in SECTION 4 (Section 106.104, Health and
Safety Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 514 amends the Health and Safety Code to add health care
professionals (professionals) and federally qualified health centers
(center) to those whose numbers the executive committee of the Center for
Rural Health Initiatives (committee) is required to increase through the
medically underserved community-state matching incentive program.  The bill
specifies that the committee is prohibited from paying to a community in a
fiscal year, unless the committee makes a finding of need, more than
$25,000 for eligible physicians, $25,000 for eligible professionals, and
$50,000 for a center (Sec. 106.102). 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.