BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 4075

By: Chavez

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) was created by the Texas Legislature to provide services to support and encourage highly qualified, economically disadvantaged students pursuing a medical education.  Funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, JAMP is a unique partnership between all eight Texas medical schools and 65 public and private four-year undergraduate institutions.  Since 2001, JAMP has been helping Texas students become tomorrow’s medical professionals by providing support through undergraduate and graduate scholarships, summer stipends, mentoring and personal assistance to prepare for medical school, hands-on experience through summer internships, and guaranteed admission to a Texas medical school if all requirements are met.

 

The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso) is the newest four-year medical school in Texas.  The first students will begin classes in the fall of 2011.  At this time, the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine does not have legislative authority to participate in JAMP.

 

C.S.H.B. 4075 adds the medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso to the list of medical schools participating in the Joint Admission Medical Program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 4075 amends the Education Code to add the medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso to the list of medical schools participating in the Joint Admission Medical Program. The bill requires the medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the bill, to enter into the agreement with the Joint Admission Medical Program Council and select an appropriate faculty member to represent the medical school on the council. The bill also requires the medical school to provide internships and mentoring under the Joint Admission Medical Program as appropriate beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year, but specifies that the school is not required before the 2012-2013 academic year to admit participating students to the medical school under the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.

 

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

C.S.H.B. 4075 differs from the original by requiring the medical school to provide internships and mentoring under the Joint Admission Medical Program as appropriate beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year, rather than the 2009-2010 academic year.