Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 7 amends the Government Code to create the Office of Rural Community Affairs to be governed by a nine-member executive committee. The bill establishes the powers and duties of the office, including a requirement to develop a rural policy for the state in consultation with local leaders representing all facets of rural community life, academic and industry experts, and state officials with interests in rural communities. The bill requires certain state agency heads to meet at least once per year, at the call of the executive committee, to discuss rural issues; authorizes the executive committee to appoint an advisory committee; and requires the office to submit a biennial report on its activities to the legislature. The bill also creates the Outstanding Rural Scholar Recognition and Loan Program for rural health care, the Health Careers Promotion and Education Program, the Medically Underserved Community-State Matching Incentive Program, the Texas Health Service Corps Program for Medically Underserved Areas, and the Rural Health Facility Capital Improvement Program.

            House Bill 7 abolishes the Center for Rural Health Initiatives and transfers responsibility for the center's programs to the Office of Rural Community Affairs. The bill takes effect September 1, 2001, except for provisions relating to training for executive committee members, which take effect September 1, 2002.