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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a community health clinic grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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designating Section 64.001 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter |
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heading to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. TEACHING HOSPITAL ACCOUNT |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 64.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Charitable clinic" means a private, nonprofit, |
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community-based organization that provides health care services to |
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low-income, underinsured, or uninsured individuals at nominal or no |
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cost through the use of volunteer health care professionals and |
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health care professional partnerships. |
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(2) "Community health clinic" means a |
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community-driven, nonprofit health clinic located in a medically |
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underserved area or serving populations that are medically |
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underserved. The term includes: |
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(A) a community health center; |
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(B) a federally qualified health center, as |
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defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B); |
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(C) a rural health clinic; and |
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(D) a charitable clinic. |
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(3) "Grant program" means the community health clinic |
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grant program established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 64.052. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT |
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PROGRAM. The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and |
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the commission shall administer a community health clinic grant |
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program to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes, |
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reduce health disparities, and achieve health equity in medically |
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underserved areas of this state by: |
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(1) improving the provision of preventative care, |
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screening, and treatment for chronic health conditions, including |
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diabetes, hypertension, and obesity; and |
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(2) strengthening the availability and capacity of |
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community health clinics to provide affordable, high-quality |
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health care services to medically underserved individuals. |
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Sec. 64.053. APPLICATION. (a) A community health clinic |
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may apply to the commission to receive money under the grant program |
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if the clinic: |
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(1) is located in a county with a population of 800,000 |
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or more, adjacent to a county with a population of 4 million or |
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more; and |
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(2) either: |
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(A) operates in a medically underserved area of |
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the county; or |
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(B) serves a medically underserved population in |
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the county. |
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(b) An application submitted under this section must |
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identify the specific purpose for which the grant is requested, |
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such as preventative care, screening, or treatment for diabetes, |
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hypertension, or obesity. |
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Sec. 64.054. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) The executive |
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commissioner, by rule, shall establish eligibility criteria for the |
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commission to award grants under the grant program. |
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(b) The commission may award a grant under the grant program |
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to an eligible applicant for the specific purpose identified in the |
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application under Section 64.053(b). |
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(c) The amount of a grant awarded under this section for a |
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specific purpose identified in the application under Section |
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64.053(b) may not exceed $5 million. |
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(d) A community health clinic may apply for and be awarded |
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multiple grants, provided each grant is awarded for a specific |
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purpose identified in the application. |
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Sec. 64.055. USE OF GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient may use |
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money awarded under the grant program only for the specific purpose |
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identified in the application under Section 64.053(b). The |
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executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing the use of money |
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awarded under the grant program. |
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Sec. 64.056. FUNDING. The commission shall award grants as |
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provided by this subchapter using money appropriated to the |
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commission for that purpose. Out of the appropriated money, the |
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commission shall allocate $200 million each fiscal biennium for |
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grant awards under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 64.057. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt |
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rules necessary to implement and administer this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2028, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt the rules necessary to implement Subchapter B, Chapter 64, |
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Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027. |