SRC-JFA S.B. 913 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 913 By: Sibley Health & Human Services 3-20-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, sets forth the guidelines for the medically underserved community-state matching program. The program offers a matching grant to communities that have made a commitment to bring a primary care physician to a medically underserved community. Two of the guidelines provide that the new physician had to (1) conduct a full-time clinical practice in the community; and (2) have completed a primary care residency program within the past seven years. During the first round of applications for the grant money, applicant communities had a difficult time meeting these two guidelines. This bill would remove these guidelines in regard to the type of physician a medically underserved community may sponsor under the program. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 913 revises the guidelines set forth in Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, relating to the medically underserved community-state matching program. 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 46.002(b), Health and Safety Code, to delete text limiting a medically underserved community to sponsoring a physician who has completed a primary care residency program within seven years of application to the medically underserved community-state matching incentive program. SECTION 2. Amends Section 46.004, Health and Safety Code, to delete text requiring the Texas Board of Health to adopt rules regarding, among other items, the contents of an agreement to be entered into by the parties to include a requirement of a full-time clinical practice for participating physicians. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.