SRC-MWN H.B. 42 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 42
By: McClendon (Ogden)
Education
5/4/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Prairie View A&M University (university) does not offer a doctor
of medicine degree program. Statistics from the Texas Department of Health
report entitled, "Texas Health Facts Data 1999," show a shortage of
physicians who serve populations in rural areas. For example, in rural
Waller County, where the university is located, the direct care physician
to population ratio is 1:3,625. In neighboring and predominantly urban
Harris County, the ratio is 1:549. Similar disparities are evident in other
areas of the state, indicating a need for increased production of doctor of
medicine degree graduates. H.B. 42 authorizes The Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, with the assistance of the board of regents of The
Texas A&M University System (board), to conduct a feasibility study
regarding an affiliation or coordinating agreement between the board and
any institution of higher education to provide the clinical education
necessary to support a doctor of medicine degree program at the university.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 87B, Education Code, by adding Section 87.107, as
follows: 

Sec. 87.107. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING CREATION OF DOCTOR OF MEDICINE
DEGREE PROGRAM. (a) Provides that "institution of higher education" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003. 

(b) Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), with
the assistance of the board of regents of the Texas A&M University System,
to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of an affiliation or
coordinating agreement between the board of regents and any institution of
higher education to provide the clinical education necessary to support a
doctor of medicine degree program at Prairie View A&M University. 

(c) Requires a study conducted under Subsection (b) to be completed on or
before December 31, 2002. 

  (d) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2003.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.