SRC-JEC H.B. 2421 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2421
By: Hawley (Madla)
Health & Human Services
5/9/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, rural communities are experiencing a shortage of health care
providers.  H.B. 2421 requires the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to
establish a program to encourage students from rural areas to study
medicine and return to the rural community to practice. 

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 106, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter H, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER H.  RURAL PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

 Sec. 106.251.  DEFINITION.  Defines "rural community."

Sec. 106.252.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  Authorizes the Center for Rural Health
Initiatives (center) to accept gifts, grants, and donations to support the
rural physician recruitment program (program). 

Sec. 106.253.  RURAL PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT PROGRAM.  (a) Requires the
center to develop a program to recruit students interested in studying
medicine from rural communities and encourage them to enroll in medical
school and to return to rural communities to practice medicine.  

(b) Requires the center to: encourage high school and college students from
rural communities to pursue a career in medicine; develop a screening
process to identify rural students most likely to pursue a career in
medicine; promote and sponsor rural electives in medical school curriculum;
establish a mentoring program for rural students; provide rural students
with information about financial aid resources available for postsecondary
education; and establish a rural practice incentive program. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.