1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the creation of a statewide preceptorship program in

 1-3     public health settings and requirements for family practice

 1-4     residency programs in those settings.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Chapter 58, Education Code, is amended by adding

 1-7     Section 58.009 to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 58.009.  STATEWIDE PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC

 1-9     HEALTH SETTINGS.  (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating

1-10     Board may contract with  one or more organizations to operate a

1-11     statewide preceptorship program in a public health setting for

1-12     medical students enrolled in Texas medical schools.

1-13           (b)  An organization eligible to receive funds under this

1-14     subsection must:

1-15                 (1)  qualify for exemption from federal income tax

1-16     under  Section 501, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.

1-17     Section 501); or

1-18                 (2)  be operated by a state accredited medical school

1-19     as defined in Section 61.501(1).

1-20           (c)  Students eligible to participate in the preceptorship

1-21     programs under this section must indicate an interest in a career

1-22     providing primary care.

1-23           (d)  The board may create and appoint an advisory committee

1-24     to  assist the board in the operation of the program.

 2-1           SECTION 2.  Section 51.918(b), Education Code, is amended to

 2-2     read as follows:

 2-3           (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall:

 2-4                 (1)  encourage and coordinate the creation or expansion

 2-5     of a rural preceptor program among medical schools, teaching

 2-6     hospitals, nursing schools, and schools of allied health sciences;

 2-7     and

 2-8                 (2)  require family practice residency programs to

 2-9     provide an opportunity for residents to have a one-month rotation

2-10     through:

2-11                       (A)  a rural setting; and

2-12                       (B)  a public health setting.

2-13           SECTION 3.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

2-14     shall require a family practice residency program to conform to

2-15     Section 51.918(b), Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon

2-16     as practicable after the effective date of this Act without causing

2-17     undue disruption in the curriculum of a student in a family

2-18     practice residency program on the effective date.

2-19           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-24     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-25     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2626 was passed by the House on May

         10, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2626 on May 24, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2626 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 22, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays

         0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor