By: Bernsen S.B. No. 216
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the funding of telecommunications infrastructure for
1-3 telemedicine services.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subdivision (11), Section 57.042, Utilities Code,
1-6 is amended to read as follows:
1-7 (11) "Telemedicine":
1-8 (A) means medical services delivered by
1-9 telecommunications technologies to rural or underserved public
1-10 not-for-profit health care facilities, for-profit rural hospitals,
1-11 or primary health care facilities in collaboration with an academic
1-12 health center and an associated teaching hospital or tertiary
1-13 center or with another public not-for-profit health care facility
1-14 or for-profit rural hospital; and
1-15 (B) includes consultive services, diagnostic
1-16 services, interactive video consultation, teleradiology,
1-17 telepathology, and distance education for working health care
1-18 professionals.
1-19 SECTION 2. Section 57.047, Utilities Code, is amended by
1-20 adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
1-21 (g) In awarding a grant or loan under this section for a
1-22 telemedicine project the board shall:
1-23 (1) give priority to:
1-24 (A) a public not-for-profit health care facility
1-25 that provides care to the medically underserved or uninsured; and
2-1 (B) a for-profit rural hospital that
2-2 demonstrates a strong record of providing care to the medically
2-3 underserved or uninsured; and
2-4 (2) adopt rules prescribing the criteria a for-profit
2-5 rural hospital must meet regarding service to the medically
2-6 underserved or uninsured under Subdivision (1)(B).
2-7 SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 58.253, Utilities Code,
2-8 is amended to read as follows:
2-9 (a) On customer request, an electing company shall provide
2-10 private network services to:
2-11 (1) an educational institution;
2-12 (2) a library;
2-13 (3) a nonprofit telemedicine center;
2-14 (4) a public or not-for-profit hospital;
2-15 (5) a project funded by the telecommunications
2-16 infrastructure fund under Subchapter C, Chapter 57, except that an
2-17 electing company may not be required to provide private network
2-18 services to a for-profit rural hospital; [or]
2-19 (6) a legally constituted consortium or group of
2-20 entities listed in this subsection; or
2-21 (7) an ambulatory health care center, as defined by
2-22 Section 57.042.
2-23 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.