85R7275 KEL-D
 
  By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2478
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an innovation grant program to support residency
  training programs in psychiatric specialty fields.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 58A, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 58A.071.  PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT
  PROGRAM. Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an
  innovation grant program under which the board awards incentive
  payments to medical schools that administer innovative residency
  training programs designed to increase the number of physicians in
  this state who specialize in pediatric or adult psychiatric care.
         Sec. 58A.072.  FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
  DONATIONS.  In addition to other money appropriated by the
  legislature, for the purpose of promoting pediatric or adult
  psychiatric care under the program established under this
  subchapter the board:
               (1)  shall first seek and apply for any available
  federal funds; and
               (2)  after determining in a program year the state's
  eligibility for funds described by Subdivision (1), may solicit and
  accept gifts, grants, and donations from any other source, public
  or private, as necessary to ensure effective implementation of the
  program.
         Sec. 58A.073.  RULES.  In consultation with each medical
  school in this state, the board shall adopt rules for the
  administration of the program established under this
  subchapter.  The rules must include:
               (1)  administrative provisions relating to the
  awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:
                     (A)  eligibility criteria for medical schools;
                     (B)  grant application procedures;
                     (C)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
                     (D)  procedures for evaluating grant
  applications; and
                     (E)  procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
  and
               (2)  methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants
  that:
                     (A)  using data reasonably available to the board,
  consider relevant information regarding the career paths of medical
  school graduates during the four-year period following their
  graduation; and
                     (B)  evaluate whether and for how long those
  graduates practice in a psychiatric specialty field in this state.
         Sec. 58A.074.  AWARD OF GRANTS. (a)  In awarding grants
  under the program, the board shall award:
               (1)  60 percent of the amount available in each program
  year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
  train physicians to specialize in pediatric psychiatric care; and
               (2)  40 percent of the amount available in each program
  year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
  train physicians to specialize in adult psychiatric care.
         (b)  Within each category of grants prescribed by Subsection
  (a), the board shall give priority to grants to medical schools with
  innovative residency programs based in rural or underserved areas.
         Sec. 58A.075.  ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.  A reasonable amount,
  not to exceed three percent, of any money appropriated for purposes
  of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the costs of
  administering this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the
  innovation grant program established under Subchapter D, Chapter
  58A, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board shall establish the innovation grant
  program required by Subchapter D, Chapter 58A, Education Code, as
  added by this Act, and shall begin to award grants under the program
  as soon as practicable after the program is established.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.