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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the resident physician expansion grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 61.511(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (j), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall administer the Resident Physician |
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Expansion Grant Program [as a competitive grant program] to |
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encourage the creation of new graduate medical education positions |
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through community collaboration and innovative funding. The board |
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shall award grants to new or existing physician residency programs |
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at teaching hospitals and other appropriate health care entities |
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according to the program criteria established under Subsections (b) |
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and (i). |
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(c) The board may provide grants only to support a residency |
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position that: |
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(1) is created and accredited on or after July |
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[January] 1, 2016 [2014]; or |
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(2) was created and accredited before July [January] |
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1, 2015 [2013], but as of that date had not yet been filled. |
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(d) A grant award may be used only to pay direct costs |
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associated with the position, including the creation and |
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maintenance of the position and the salary of the resident |
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physician. |
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(e) Each grant application must specify: |
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(1) the number of residency positions expected to be |
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created or maintained with the grant money; and |
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(2) the grant amount requested for each year. |
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(f) The board by rule shall ensure that [award] grants are |
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awarded for each [all] residency position for which a grant was |
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[positions] awarded [a grant under this section] in the preceding |
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year [before awarding a grant for a residency position that did not
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receive a grant in the preceding year], until the resident in that |
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position in the preceding year has completed the requirements of |
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the position and provided that the applicable grant recipient from |
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the preceding year complies with all conditions of the grant as |
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described by Subsection (g). |
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(j) Not later than March [January] 1 of each even-numbered |
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year, the board shall prepare and submit to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives |
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with responsibility for oversight of health and human services |
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issues, and the Legislative Budget Board a report that: |
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(1) specifies each of the following with respect to |
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the preceding program year: |
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(A) the number of grants awarded under the |
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program; |
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(B) the amount of each grant awarded under the |
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program; |
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(C) the number of residency positions created |
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with the support of grant money; |
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(D) the medical specialty of the residency |
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positions created; and |
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(E) whether physicians who complete their |
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training through residency positions created under the program |
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choose to practice in this state and which medical specialties they |
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choose for their practices; and |
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(2) makes appropriate recommendations for legislative |
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changes as necessary. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |