BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2594

By: Ortega

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A constituent in House District 77 expressed concern regarding the lack of attention on the physical and mental health of medical students after her daughter, who had just completed her medical residency and was ready to begin her career in El Paso, passed away from a terminal cancer of which she was not aware. Medical school can be a large source of psychological and emotional stress, which can lead to decreased health, and medical students often prioritize their degree, residency, and patients while neglecting to focus on their own health. H.B. 2594 seeks to address these concerns by requiring training in medical schools in Texas regarding the importance of student, resident, and physician mental and physical health.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 2594 amends the Education Code to require each medical school and any other institution of higher education, or school, department, or college of such an institution, that awards medical degrees to include training regarding the importance of student, resident, and physician mental and physical health in the medical degree curriculum. The bill expressly does not apply to the degree program requirements of a student who entered the degree program at a medical school before the 2024 fall semester and sets this applicability provision to expire January 1, 2030.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.