SRC-JFA H.B. 2099 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2099 By: Uher (Patterson) Health & Human Services 5-15-97 Engrossed DIGEST In 1995, the legislature established a student loan reimbursement program for physician assistants who practice in underserved areas. Some physician assistants currently practicing in these areas do not fall under this statute since they received their training out-of-state. This bill would allow physician assistants who were trained out-of-state to receive the same loan reimbursement benefits as those trained in-state. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2099 authorizes physician assistants who were trained out-of-state to receive the same loan reimbursement benefits as those trained in-state. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 24(a), Article 4495b-1, V.T.C.S. (Physician Assistant Licensing Act), to require the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners, rather than the Physician Assistant Advisory Council, to designate annually a portion of the revenue generated under this Act from physician assistant licensing fees to be set aside to provide student loan reimbursement for graduates of physician assistant training programs from any, rather than in this, state who practice in rural health professional shortage areas and, rather than and/or rural, medically underserved areas identified by the Texas Department of Health. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.