LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 31, 2023

TO:
Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB400 by Klick (Relating to innovation grant programs to support residency training programs in psychiatric specialty fields and recruitment, training, and retention programs in behavioral health fields.), As Introduced

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the unavailability of data related to the number of institutions that would be eligible for awards and what amounts would be awarded.

The bill would create two grant programs administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (Board) to support residency training programs in psychiatric specialty fields and recruitment, training, and retention in behavioral health fields.

The Psychiatric Specialty Innovation Grant Program would provide incentive payments to medical schools that administer innovative residency training programs designed to increase the number of physicians in the state who specialize in pediatric or adult psychiatric care.

The Behavioral Health Innovation Grant Program would provide incentive payments to institutions of higher education that administer innovative recruitment, training, and retention programs designed to increase the number of mental health professionals or professionals in related fields, 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. 

The Board would be required to draft rules regarding eligibility criteria (including requiring eligible schools to demonstrate regional and state workforce need) and guidelines for grant amounts. The Board indicates that until rules are finalized for the two programs, it is not known which institutions will be eligible for awards and what amounts they will be able to receive.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
LBB Staff:
JMc, MOc, JSM, GO