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.