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.