SRC-JEC C.S.S.B. 514 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 514 77R7306 YDB-DBy: Truan Health & Human Services 4/3/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas is experiencing a shortage of many health care professionals, including pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, and registered nurses. C.S.S.B. 514 expands grant programs formerly limited to physicians to include other health care professionals, to help alleviate shortages in medically underserved communities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive committee of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives in SECTION 4 (Section 106.104, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 106.101, Health and Safety Code, to define "federally qualified health center" and "health care professional." SECTION 2. Amends Sections 106.102(a), (b), (c), and (d), Health and Safety Code, to require the executive committee of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives (executive committee) to establish and administer a program under this subchapter to increase the number of health care professionals and federally qualified health centers providing or assisting in the provision of primary care in medically underserved communities. Prohibits the executive committee from paying to a community in a fiscal year more than $25,000 for eligible physicians, $25,000 for eligible health care professionals, and $50,000 for a federally qualified health center unless the executive committee makes a specific finding of need by the community. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 106.103, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 4. Amends Section 106.104, Health and Safety Code, to require the executive committee to adopt rules necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including eligibility criteria for health care professionals and federally qualified health centers and conditions under which state money is required to be repaid by a community, physician, health care professional, or federally qualified health center. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 5. Amends Section 106.151, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 6. Amends Section 106.152, Health and Safety Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 7. Amends Section 106.154, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 8. Amends Section 106.155, Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 9. Effective date: September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original as follows: _Adds a definition of "federally qualified health center" as Section 106.101(1), Health and Safety Code, and redesignates subsequent Subdivisions (1)-(5) as (2)-(6). _Uses the term "advanced practice nurse," rather than "nurse practitioner," and includes a pharmacist in the definition of "health care professional." _Includes federally qualified health centers in all of the bill's provisions with health care professionals. _In Section 106.102(d), Health and Safety Code, includes the $50,000 limit for a federally qualified health center. _In Section 106.104, Health and Safety Code, includes as Subdivision (4) the rulemaking authority regarding eligibility criteria for federally qualified health centers and redesignates subsequent Subdivisions (4)-(8) as (5)-(9).