BG H.B. 2099 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS PUBLIC HEALTH H.B. 2099 By: Uher 4-24-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In 1995, the Legislature established a student loan reimbursement program for physician assistants who practice in underserved areas. However, some physician assistants currently practicing in these areas do not fall under this statute simply because they received their training out-of-state. PURPOSE HB 2099 allows physician assistants who were trained out-of-state to receive the same loan reimbursement benefits as those trained in-state. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 24(a), Physician Assistant Licensing Act (Article 4495b-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by replacing the words "in this" with "from any" in regards to student loan reimbursement set asides for physician assistants practicing in rural health shortage and medically underserved areas as specified. Makes clarifying language changes by striking the words "council" and "or rural." SECTION 2. Effective date is September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.