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).