1-1     By:  Delisi (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief)               H.B. No. 2626

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 1997;

 1-3     May 13, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health

 1-4     and Human Services; May 16, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 16, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-7                                   AN ACT

 1-8     relating to the creation of a statewide preceptorship program in

 1-9     public health settings.

1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-11           SECTION 1.  Chapter 58, Education Code, is amended by adding

1-12     Section 58.009 to read as follows:

1-13           Sec. 58.009.  STATEWIDE PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC

1-14     HEALTH SETTINGS.  (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating

1-15     Board may contract with  one or more organizations to operate a

1-16     statewide preceptorship program in a public health setting for

1-17     medical students enrolled in Texas medical schools.

1-18           (b)  An organization eligible to receive funds under this

1-19     subsection must:

1-20                 (1)  qualify for exemption from federal income tax

1-21     under  Section 501, Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.

1-22     Section 501); or

1-23                 (2)  be operated by a state accredited medical school

1-24     as defined in Section 61.501(1).

1-25           (c)  Students eligible to participate in the preceptorship

1-26     programs under this section must indicate an interest in a career

1-27     providing primary care.

1-28           (d)  The board may create and appoint an advisory committee

1-29     to  assist the board in the operation of the program.

1-30           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-31     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-32     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-33     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-34     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-35     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-36     passage, and it is so enacted.

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