BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1601
By: West, Royce
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Joint Admission Medical Program (program) was created by the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, to encourage qualified, economically disadvantaged students to prepare for and attend medical school. The program is operated in partnership with all eight Texas medical schools, 31 general academic teaching institutions, and 34 private or independent institutions of higher education. The program provides scholarships, mentoring, summer enrichment programs, and guaranteed admission to medical school if certain requirements are met.
S.B. 1601 removes the 10 percent limitation on program openings for private or independent institutions of higher education, allocates one opening each year to each private or independent institution, and allows for up to 30 percent of the openings in certain situations to be allocated for such institutions. The bill updates the eligibility requirements for admission to the program by allowing a student to have enrolled at an institution of higher education, including a community college, and removes nontraditional students from application to the program. It modifies the deadline date for submitting applications to the program. S.B. 1601 expands the discretion of the institutions in selecting a director to implement the program, and it clarifies the scope of the Joint Admission Medical Program Council's ability to accept gifts and raise money.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 51.824(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Deletes existing provisions applying the actions required of the Joint Admission Medical Program Council (council) to nontraditional students described by Section 51.832 (Nontraditional Students).
(b) Requires the council to annually select for admission to the Joint Admission Medical Program (program) two, rather than at least two, eligible undergraduate students who are enrolled as sophomores from each general academic teaching institution, and one eligible undergraduate student who is enrolled as a sophomore from each private or independent institution of higher education. Deletes the provision requiring the council to allocate 10 percent of the total program openings on a rotation basis to private or independent institutions of higher education. Requires the council to allocate the remaining program openings to participating, rather than general academic teaching, institutions as the council determines to be appropriate. Requires the council, if there are insufficient program openings to accommodate two students from each general academic teaching institution and one student from each private or independent institution of higher education, to select for admission to the program eligible sophomore-level students who are enrolled in the participating institutions to achieve the purpose of this subchapter, with not more than 15 percent of the total program openings for any year to be allocated to eligible sophomore-level students who are enrolled at private or independent institutions of higher education.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.826, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 51.826. ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION TO PROGRAM. Sets forth the eligibility requirements for admission to the program or for selection as a program alternate for undergraduate students, adding the requirement that the student be enrolled at a general academic teaching institution or a private or independent institution of higher education at the time of application to the program. Requires the student to apply for admission to the program not later than a date, as designated by the council, that occurs during the fall semester, rather than September 1. Updates a reference to Subsection (a)(2) to refer to (a)(3). Updates a reference to Subsection (a)(3) to refer to (a)(4).
SECTION 3. Amends Section 51.8265(b), Education Code, to entitle an identified student who expresses an interest in participating in the program, if the student is enrolled at a general academic teaching institution or a private or independent institution of higher education, to regular meetings with a program faculty director or an academic or health professions advisor to monitor the student's academic progress and advise the student in academic course work and career choices.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 51.829(a), Education Code, to delete existing provisions requiring agreements set forth in this section to apply to nontraditional student described by Section 51.831 (Council Agreement with Private or Independent Institution of Higher Education) and Section 51.832.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 51.830, Education Code, to make conforming changes to include an academic or health professions advisor.
SECTION 6. Amends Section 51.831, Education Code, to make conforming changes.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 51.833(a), Education Code, to authorize the council to accept a gift, grant, devise, or bequest of money, securities, service, or property to carry out any purpose of this subchapter, including funds raised or services provided by a volunteer or volunteer group to promote the work of the council, rather than authorizing the council to solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or private source for the purposes of this subchapter. Authorizes the council's administrative staff to participate in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the council.
SECTION 8. Repealer: Section 51.832 (Nontraditional Students), Education Code.
SECTION 9. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 10. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.