BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 526

                                                                                                                                 By: Nelson et al.

                                                                                                                  Health & Human Services

                                                                                                                                            9/24/2009

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Over 200 Texas counties are designated as medically underserved areas.  Federally qualified health centers (FQHC) provide health care services to low income and medically underserved communities.  S.B. 610, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, directed the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to create the FQHC incubator program to make grants to establish new or expand existing facilities that can qualify as FQHCs.  This program is set to expire on September 1, 2009.

 

S.B. 526 amends current law relating to grants for federally qualified health centers.

 

[Note: While the statutory reference in this bill is to the Texas Department of Health (TDH), the following amendments affect the Department of State Health Services, as the successor agency to TDH.]

 

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 Section 31.017, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 31.017.  FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.  Authorizes the Texas Department of Health to make grants to establish new or expand existing facilities and to support new or expanded services at facilities that can qualify as federally qualified health centers, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(1)(2)(B), in this state, including planning grants, development grants, capital improvement grants, and grants for transitional operating support.  Deletes existing Subsection (b), providing that this section expires September 1, 2009.

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act does not make an appropriation.  Provides that this Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of the Act is provided in a general appropriations act of the 81st Legislature.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: August 31, 2009.