SRC-TAG H.B. 85 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 85 78R10434 JSA-FBy: McClendon (West, Royce) Education 5/20/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE There is a significant gap between the percentage of Hispanics and African Americans in Texas medical schools and their percentage in the population at large. Many studies have shown that a lack of diversity among health care providers results in less effective physician-patient communication, and delayed physician visitation, which causes undue progression of serious conditions and preventable diseases. Projections show that Texas must have an educational "pipeline" producing 150 or more qualified minority applicants to Texas medical schools per year in order to meet the state's growing needs. Currently, the "pipeline" is producing about 40 such students per year. To bolster student interest in science and medicine, and to increase the number of "qualified" applicants to Texas medical schools, H.B. 85 would establish an undergraduate Medical Academy at Prairie View A&M University. The academy would serve as a state-wide magnet for students interested in medicine and provide intensive preparation for the medical school application process. The academy would interact and work closely with medical schools within the state to keep abreast of the skills and knowledge that they are seeking in their applicants. 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 Subchapter B, Chapter 87, Education Code, by adding Section 87.108, as follows: Sec. 87.108. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL ACADEMY. (a) Sets forth the establishment of Prairie View A&M Undergraduate Medical Academy (academy) at Prairie View A&M University. (b) Provides that the organization, control, and management of the academy is vested in the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System (board). (c) Establishes that the employment of personnel by and operating budget of the academy are subject to the approval of the board. Establishes that an employee of the academy is an employee of Prairie View A&M University. (d) Specifies that the primary purpose of the academy is to prepare students for medical school. (e) Provides that a student is eligible to apply for admission into the academy if the student is enrolled in Prairie View A&M University with a major that requires completion of the prescribed core of basic science and mathematics courses needed as a foundation preparation for gaining admission into medical study at an accredited medical school in the United States; has completed at least one year of undergraduate college-level or university-level courses approved by the academy; has demonstrated interest in a medical career; and has met the academic achievement standards established for the academy by the academy's admissions committee in the student's undergraduate courses. (f) Requires the academy to provide academic and career counseling for academy students; faculty mentorship for each academy student; enriched undergraduate courses designed to strengthen academic preparation, including preparation for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), for future medical school applicants; preparation for the MCAT and instruction in standardized testing techniques; longdistance educational technology to allow interactive participation with medical schools, as appropriate; visitation to medical school educational sites; and visitation of medical school faculty to the academy for academic enrichment. (g) Requires a student admitted to the academy to enter into an agreement with the university under which the student agrees to maintain the student's eligibility for continued enrollment in the academy; and repay any scholarship or stipend the student receives in connection with enrollment in the academy if the student fails to apply to medical school in Texas and enrolls in a medical school outside of Texas; or declines an offer to attend medical school in Texas and enrolls in a medical school outside of Texas. (h) Requires the academy to consult with the medical schools in Texas to ensure that its curriculum and practices are consistent with current medical school needs and requirements. (i) Requires the academy to enter into cooperative programs, as appropriate, with medical schools in Texas to help achieve the goals of the academy. (j) Requires the academy to incorporate into its curriculum current medical school educational practices, such as small group tutorials using problem-based instruction. (k) Requires Prairie View A&M University to enhance its facilities as necessary to achieve the purposes of the academy. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.