By: Klick, Lambert, Zwiener H.B. No. 400

(Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 2023; May 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; May 9, 2023, rereferred to Committee on Health & Human Services; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 1; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to innovation grant programs to support residency training programs in psychiatric specialty fields and recruitment, training, and retention programs in behavioral health 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 may:

(1) seek and apply for any available federal funds; and

(2) 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, including a requirement that the medical school demonstrate regional and state workforce need;

(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. GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of a grant awarded under this subchapter may not exceed $1 million.

Sec. 58A.076. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A medical school that receives a grant awarded under this subchapter shall submit to the board an annual report on the amounts and purposes for which grant funds were spent during the year covered by the report.

Sec. 58A.077. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. A reasonable amount, not to exceed five percent, of any general revenue appropriated for purposes of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the costs of administering this subchapter.

SECTION 2. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter RR to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER RR. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 61.9991. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM. Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an innovation grant program under which the board awards incentive payments to institutions of higher education that administer innovative recruitment, training, and retention programs designed to increase the number of mental health professionals, as defined by Section 61.601, or professionals in related fields, as determined by the board, including by providing a salary increase or stipend to a faculty member who provides instruction to additional students in a degree or certificate program that graduates those professionals.

Sec. 61.9992. FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. In addition to other money appropriated by the legislature, for the purpose of increasing the behavioral health workforce in this state under the program established under this subchapter the board may:

(1) seek and apply for any available federal funds; and

(2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any other source, public or private, as necessary to ensure effective implementation of the program.

Sec. 61.9993. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules for the administration of the program established under this subchapter. In adopting the rules, the board shall solicit from the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council information necessary to identify programs anticipated to produce the best outcomes and serve the greatest need.

(b) The rules must include:

(1) administrative provisions relating to the awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:

(A) eligibility criteria for institutions of higher education, including a requirement that the institution demonstrate regional and state workforce need;

(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 professionals described by Section 61.9991 during the four-year period following their graduation; and

(B) evaluate whether and for how long those professionals practice in a field described by Section 61.9991 in this state.

Sec. 61.9994. AWARD OF GRANTS. In awarding grants under the program, the board shall give priority to applicants that propose to:

(1) enhance or leverage existing degree programs that graduate professionals described by Section 61.9991;

(2) establish or maintain a program that serves a rural or underserved area;

(3) partner with:

(A) another institution of higher education to develop a joint program; or

(B) a public school to implement early recruitment in high school;

(4) establish or maintain a program that incentivizes professionals described by Section 61.9991 to serve in their field or a related field of study for at least three consecutive years following graduation in an inpatient or outpatient behavioral health facility or program that receives state funding;

(5) establish or maintain a degree or certificate program to educate professionals in specialties that face significant workforce shortages, including those described by Section 61.601; or

(6) establish or maintain psychiatric fellowship programs that serve correctional facilities or inpatient psychiatric facilities.

Sec. 61.9995. GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of a grant awarded under this subchapter may not exceed $1 million.

Sec. 61.9996. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. An institution of higher education that receives a grant awarded under this subchapter shall submit to the board an annual report on the amounts and purposes for which grant funds were spent during the year covered by the report.

Sec. 61.9997. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. A reasonable amount, not to exceed five percent, of any general revenue appropriated for purposes of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the costs of administering this subchapter.

SECTION 3. (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 programs established under Subchapter D, Chapter 58A, Education Code, and Subchapter RR, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall establish the innovation grant programs required by Subchapter D, Chapter 58A, Education Code, and Subchapter RR, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, and shall begin to award grants under each program as soon as practicable after the program is established.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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