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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain |
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physician education loans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 61.532(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible to receive repayment assistance, a |
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physician must: |
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(1) apply to the coordinating board; |
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(2) at the time of application, be licensed to |
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practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code; |
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(3) have completed one, two, three, or four |
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consecutive years of practice: |
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(A) in a health professional shortage area |
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designated by the Department of State Health Services; [or] |
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(B) in: |
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(i) a state supported living center, as |
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defined by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(ii) a state hospital, as defined by |
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Section 552.0011, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(C) in accordance with Subsection (b), after |
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funds have been fully allocated for the program year to physicians |
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qualifying under Paragraph (A) or (B); and |
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(4) unless the physician qualifies under Subsection |
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(a)(3)(B), provide health care services to: |
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(A) recipients under the medical assistance |
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program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; |
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(B) enrollees under the child health plan program |
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authorized by Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(C) persons committed to a secure correctional |
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facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department or persons confined in a secure correctional |
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facility operated by or under contract with any division of the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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(b) A physician may complete one or more years of practice |
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required by Subsection (a)(3)(C) [(a)(3)] in a location other than |
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an area or facility described by Subsection (a)(3)(A) or (B) [a
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health professional shortage area designated by the Department of
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State Health Services] if, during the applicable year or years, the |
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physician provides health care services to a designated number of |
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patients who are recipients under the medical assistance program |
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authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or the Texas |
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Women's Health Program according to criteria established by the |
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board in consultation with the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. The Health and Human Services Commission shall verify |
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a physician's compliance with this subsection, and the board and |
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the commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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61.532, Education Code, applies only to eligibility for loan |
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repayment assistance under Subchapter J, Chapter 61, Education |
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Code, on the basis of an application submitted on or after September |
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1, 2017. Eligibility on the basis of an application submitted |
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before September 1, 2017, is covered by the law in effect at the |
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time the application was submitted, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |