SRC-JEC S.B. 1009 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1009 78R7401 JSA-FBy: West, Royce Subcommittee on Higher Education 4/14/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is a significant gap between the percentages of racial minorities in Texas medical schools and their percentages in the population at large. This gap contributes to negative public health consequences through less effective doctor-patient communication and delayed medical services. As proposed, S.B. 1009 establishes an undergraduate medical academy at Prairie View A&M University. The academy would serve as a statewide magnet for students interested in medicine and provide intensive preparation for the medical school application process. It would also interact and work closely with medical schools in the state to keep abreast of the skills and knowledge those schools are seeking in 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) Establishes the Prairie View A&M Undergraduate Medical 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. (c) Provides that the employment of personnel by and the operating budget of the institute are subject to the approval of the board of regents. Provides that an employee of the academy is an employee of Prairie View A&M University. (d) Provides that the 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 meets certain criteria. (f) Requires the academy to provide certain services. (g) 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. (h) Requires the academy to enter into cooperative programs, as appropriate, with medical schools in Texas to help achieve the goals of the academy. (i) Requires the academy to incorporate into its curriculum current medical school educational practices, such as small group tutorials using problem-based instruction. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.