1-1     By:  Bivins, et al.                                    S.B. No. 940
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 26, 2001; February 27, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
 1-4     March 19, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 1, 1 present, not
 1-6     voting; March 19, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 940                   By:  Bivins
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to the establishment of the Joint Admission Medical
1-11     Program to assist certain economically disadvantaged students in
1-12     preparing for and succeeding in medical school.
1-13           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-14           SECTION 1.  Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-15     Subchapter V to read as follows:
1-16               SUBCHAPTER V.  JOINT ADMISSION MEDICAL PROGRAM
1-17           Sec. 51.821.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
1-18                 (1)  "Council" means the Joint Admission Medical
1-19     Program Council established under this subchapter.
1-20                 (2)  "General academic teaching institution" means a
1-21     four-year general academic teaching institution as defined by
1-22     Section 61.003.
1-23                 (3)  "Participating medical school" means each of the
1-24     following entities:
1-25                       (A)  the medical school at The University of
1-26     Texas Health Science Center at Houston;
1-27                       (B)  the medical school at The University of
1-28     Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas;
1-29                       (C)  the medical school at The University of
1-30     Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio;
1-31                       (D)  the medical school at The University of
1-32     Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;
1-33                       (E)  the medical school at Texas Tech University
1-34     Health Sciences Center;
1-35                       (F)  the Baylor College of Medicine;
1-36                       (G)  the college of osteopathic medicine at the
1-37     University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth; and
1-38                       (H)  the medical school at The Texas A&M
1-39     University System Health Science Center.
1-40                 (4)  "Participating student" means an eligible
1-41     undergraduate student who is admitted to the program and who
1-42     maintains eligibility for continued participation in the program.
1-43                 (5)  "Program" means the Joint Admission Medical
1-44     Program established under this subchapter.
1-45           Sec. 51.822.  JOINT ADMISSION MEDICAL PROGRAM.  The Joint
1-46     Admission Medical Program is a program administered by the Joint
1-47     Admission Medical Program Council to:
1-48                 (1)  provide services to support and encourage highly
1-49     qualified, economically disadvantaged students pursuing a medical
1-50     education;
1-51                 (2)  award undergraduate and graduate scholarships and
1-52     summer stipends to those students; and
1-53                 (3)  guarantee the admission of those students to at
1-54     least one participating medical school.
1-55           Sec. 51.823.  COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL.  (a)  The participating
1-56     medical schools shall jointly establish the Joint Admission Medical
1-57     Program Council consisting of one faculty member employed by and
1-58     representing each of the participating medical schools.
1-59           (b)  A person may not serve on the council for more than six
1-60     consecutive years.
1-61           (c)  The council shall select one of its members to serve as
1-62     council chair for a term of two years.
1-63           Sec. 51.824.  COUNCIL DUTIES.  (a)  The council shall:
1-64                 (1)  recruit eligible undergraduate students for
 2-1     admission to the program;
 2-2                 (2)  establish an application process for admitting
 2-3     eligible undergraduate students to the program;
 2-4                 (3)  evaluate applications for admission to the program
 2-5     according to the selection requirements of Subsection (b);
 2-6                 (4)  monitor the implementation of the program;
 2-7                 (5)  assist in developing services to support and
 2-8     encourage the pursuit of a medical education by participating
 2-9     students and, as applicable, nontraditional students described by
2-10     Section 51.831;
2-11                 (6)  establish a process for participating students to:
2-12                       (A)  be matched to an internship program as
2-13     described by Subsection (c);
2-14                       (B)  be matched to any required undergraduate
2-15     mentoring program as described by Subsection (d);
2-16                       (C)  apply for admission to participating medical
2-17     schools;
2-18                       (D)  be matched to a participating medical school
2-19     as described by Subsection (e); and
2-20                       (E)  enroll in that school;
2-21                 (7)  award to participating students undergraduate
2-22     scholarships and summer stipends, including a summer stipend for a
2-23     student who is required to participate in an internship program in
2-24     the summer immediately following the student's senior year;
2-25                 (8)  award graduate scholarships to participating
2-26     students and, as applicable, nontraditional students described by
2-27     Section 51.831;
2-28                 (9)  enter into an agreement with each student admitted
2-29     to the program, each participating medical school, and each general
2-30     academic teaching institution as required by this subchapter; and
2-31                 (10)  take any other action necessary to implement the
2-32     program.
2-33           (b)  From each general academic teaching institution, the
2-34     council annually shall select for admission to the program at least
2-35     two eligible undergraduate students who are enrolled as freshmen at
2-36     that institution.  The council shall allocate the remaining program
2-37     openings to general academic teaching institutions in proportion to
2-38     the average size of each institution's entering freshman class
2-39     during the four-year period preceding the allocation.
2-40           (c)  The council shall match each participating student with
2-41     appropriate internship programs offered by participating medical
2-42     schools during the summers immediately following the student's
2-43     freshman, sophomore, and junior years.  A participating medical
2-44     school to which a participating student is matched under Subsection
2-45     (e) may require the student to participate in an internship program
2-46     offered by the medical school during the summer immediately
2-47     following the student's senior year.
2-48           (d)  The council shall match each participating student with
2-49     any appropriate undergraduate mentoring program required of the
2-50     student by the council.
2-51           (e)  During a participating student's senior year, the
2-52     council shall match the student with an appropriate participating
2-53     medical school as necessary to fill the percentage of enrollment
2-54     capacity set aside by each medical school under the program.  To
2-55     the extent possible, the council shall accommodate the preferences
2-56     of participating students regarding medical school placement.  A
2-57     participating medical school may not make an offer of admission to
2-58     a participating student before the student is matched by the
2-59     council to a medical school as described by this subsection.
2-60           Sec. 51.825.  COUNCIL DELEGATION.  The council may delegate
2-61     the performance of the council's administrative functions,
2-62     including its matching functions, to the Texas Medical and Dental
2-63     Schools Application Service operated through The University of
2-64     Texas System.
2-65           Sec. 51.826.  ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION TO PROGRAM.  To be
2-66     eligible for admission to the program, an undergraduate student
2-67     must:
2-68                 (1)  enroll at a general academic teaching institution
2-69     not later than the first fall semester following the student's
 3-1     graduation from high school;
 3-2                 (2)  be entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided by
 3-3     Chapter 54 for resident students;
 3-4                 (3)  successfully complete at least 15 semester credit
 3-5     hours during the fall semester of the student's freshman year at
 3-6     the general academic teaching institution;
 3-7                 (4)  apply for admission to the program at the
 3-8     beginning of the spring semester of the student's freshman year at
 3-9     the general academic teaching institution; and
3-10                 (5)  meet criteria established by the council
3-11     regarding:
3-12                       (A)  minimum high school and undergraduate grade
3-13     point averages;
3-14                       (B)  financial need and any other indication of
3-15     economic disadvantage; and
3-16                       (C)  any other criteria the council considers
3-17     appropriate.
3-18           Sec. 51.827.  ELIGIBILITY TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN
3-19     PROGRAM.  (a)  To be eligible to continue participation in the
3-20     program, an undergraduate student who is admitted to the program
3-21     must:
3-22                 (1)  meet criteria established by the council
3-23     regarding:
3-24                       (A)  courses taken and minimum grade point
3-25     average for those courses during enrollment at the general academic
3-26     teaching institution;
3-27                       (B)  progress in those courses; and
3-28                       (C)  achievement of an acceptable score on the
3-29     Medical College Admission Test or any equivalent examination taken
3-30     as a precondition for enrollment in or admission to a participating
3-31     medical school; and
3-32                 (2)  participate in:
3-33                       (A)  internship programs  described by Section
3-34     51.824(c) in:
3-35                             (i)  the summers immediately following the
3-36     student's freshman, sophomore, and junior years; and
3-37                             (ii)  if required, the summer immediately
3-38     following the student's senior year; and
3-39                       (B)  any undergraduate or graduate mentoring
3-40     program required by the council.
3-41           (b)  If an undergraduate student who is admitted to the
3-42     program fails to meet the requirements of Subsection (a) without
3-43     good cause as determined by the council, the council may terminate
3-44     that student's participation in the program at the end of the
3-45     semester during which the student failed to meet the requirements
3-46     of that subsection.  A student's participation in the program is
3-47     automatically terminated if the student fails to meet the
3-48     requirements of Subsection (a) for two consecutive semesters
3-49     without good cause.
3-50           Sec. 51.828.  COUNCIL AGREEMENT WITH STUDENT ADMITTED TO
3-51     PROGRAM.  (a)  A student admitted to the program must enter into an
3-52     agreement with the council under which the student agrees to:
3-53                 (1)  maintain eligibility for continued participation
3-54     in the program; and
3-55                 (2)  repay any scholarship or stipend received under
3-56     the program if the student enrolls in a public or private medical
3-57     school in another state, other than temporary enrollment occurring
3-58     as a result of an exchange program.
3-59           (b)  At the time the student enters into an agreement under
3-60     this section, the council shall provide the student with
3-61     information regarding:
3-62                 (1)  available program benefits, including
3-63     undergraduate and graduate scholarships and summer stipends; and
3-64                 (2)  repayment of scholarship and stipend benefits
3-65     received under the program.
3-66           Sec. 51.829.  COUNCIL AGREEMENT WITH PARTICIPATING MEDICAL
3-67     SCHOOL.  (a)  Each participating medical school must enter into an
3-68     agreement with the council under which the medical school agrees
3-69     to:
 4-1                 (1)  select a faculty member employed by the medical
 4-2     school to serve on the council;
 4-3                 (2)  commit faculty and administrative resources to the
 4-4     program;
 4-5                 (3)  set aside for participating students or, if
 4-6     necessary, nontraditional students described by Section 51.831 at
 4-7     least 10 percent of the medical school's enrollment capacity for
 4-8     each entering class, except as provided by Subsection (b);
 4-9                 (4)  admit participating students who are matched to
4-10     the medical school under the program;
4-11                 (5)  provide internship programs for participating
4-12     students who have been matched to or are required to participate in
4-13     those programs as described by Section 51.824(c) and coordinate the
4-14     administration of those programs with general academic teaching
4-15     institutions as necessary;
4-16                 (6)  provide for participating students any mentoring
4-17     programs required by the council at the undergraduate level and
4-18     coordinate the administration of those programs with general
4-19     academic teaching institutions as necessary; and
4-20                 (7)  provide support services, including
4-21     postbaccalaureate mentoring programs required by the council, to
4-22     participating students and, as applicable, nontraditional students
4-23     described by Section 51.831 who enroll in the medical school.
4-24           (b)  The Baylor College of Medicine must agree under
4-25     Subsection (a) to set aside under Subsection (a)(3) not less than
4-26     10 percent of its enrollment capacity set aside for students who
4-27     are entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided by Chapter 54 for
4-28     resident students.
4-29           Sec. 51.830.  COUNCIL AGREEMENT WITH GENERAL ACADEMIC
4-30     TEACHING INSTITUTION.  Each general academic teaching institution
4-31     must enter into an agreement with the council under which the
4-32     institution agrees to:
4-33                 (1)  provide academic counseling to a participating
4-34     student enrolled at that institution;
4-35                 (2)  as soon as practicable, implement or expand
4-36     appropriate degree programs as necessary to provide participating
4-37     students with sufficient preparation for enrollment in
4-38     participating medical schools; and
4-39                 (3)  select a faculty director to assist in
4-40     implementing the program at the institution and in implementing or
4-41     expanding the institution's degree programs as necessary under
4-42     Subdivision (2).
4-43           Sec. 51.831.  NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS.  (a)  If for any
4-44     reason a participating medical school does not fill the percentage
4-45     of enrollment capacity set aside for participating students under
4-46     the program, the medical school shall fill the remaining openings
4-47     with economically disadvantaged students who:
4-48                 (1)  are 25 years of age or older;
4-49                 (2)  have been admitted to the medical school
4-50     independently of the program;
4-51                 (3)  are referred by the medical school to the council
4-52     and admitted to the program by the council; and
4-53                 (4)  are entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided
4-54     by Chapter 54 for resident students.
4-55           (b)  Nontraditional students admitted to the program under
4-56     this section are subject only to the program benefits and
4-57     requirements applicable to participating students after their
4-58     enrollment in a participating medical school and must sign an
4-59     agreement to that effect.
4-60           Sec. 51.832.  FUNDING.  (a)  The council may solicit and
4-61     accept gifts and grants from any public or private source for the
4-62     purposes of this subchapter.
4-63           (b)  The legislature may appropriate money for the purposes
4-64     of this subchapter.
4-65           Sec. 51.833.  REPORT.  (a)  The council shall deliver a
4-66     report on the program to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and
4-67     the speaker of the house of representatives not later than December
4-68     31 of each even-numbered year.
4-69           (b)  The report must contain detailed information regarding:
 5-1                 (1)  any problems the council identifies in
 5-2     implementing the program, with recommended solutions for those
 5-3     problems;
 5-4                 (2)  the expenditure of any money received under this
 5-5     subchapter, including legislative appropriations; and
 5-6                 (3)  the number of students who are admitted to the
 5-7     program and who are enrolled in each year of a baccalaureate,
 5-8     graduate, or professional degree program offered by a general
 5-9     academic teaching institution or a participating medical school, as
5-10     applicable.
5-11           SECTION 2.  The Joint Admission Medical Program Council is
5-12     required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates
5-13     money specifically for that purpose.  If the legislature does not
5-14     appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the council may,
5-15     but is not required to, implement this Act using other
5-16     appropriations available for the purpose.
5-17           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
5-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
5-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
5-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
5-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
5-22                                  * * * * *