Higher Education Legislative Tracking Chart
Bill # HB 882– See Status column for notes Author/Spons or Naishtat Companion SB 922 by Watson Tag Relating to regional health care programs for employees of small employers. Summary CSUB: Adds Chapter 75:REGIONAL OR LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES OF SMALL EMPLOYERS to Title 2 of the Health and Safety Code. Purpose of chapter is to: improve health of small business employees by improving access to health care and reduce # of uninsured; reduce the # of those employees needing state-funded program access; further eco devo by helping small businesses remain competitive with healthy workforce/attractive benefits; and encourage innovative solutions for providing/funding health care benefits. Allows county commissioners court to establish/participate in local health care program. Regional or local health care programs provide services/benefits to participating small business employees and their dependents located within county boundaries. Governing body establishes participation criteria which must include cost-sharing of the program. Allows use of gifts/grants/donations/health opportunity pool funding to fund benefits and reduce cost of participation in program. Gives governing body flexibility to develop another type of program to accomplish purposes of chapter to: 1. reduce uninsured, 2. reduce costs of health care, 3. promote preventative care, 4. promote efficient/collaborative delivery of services, 5. serve as a model for health IT, and 6. provide fair payment rates for providers. Allows regional or local program to purchase/facilitate health benefit plan coverage including: small employer plans under Chapter 1501 Insurance Code, standard health plan under 1507 of Insurance Code, or any other plan available in TX. Allows the establishment of a cooperative. Allows establishment/facilitation of self-funded health benefit plans. Can limit services provided under program. Allows regional/local health care programs to apply for funding through health opportunity pool. Allows HHSC commissioner to establish a grant program to support initial establishment of a demonstration project. HHSC must complete a review of the demonstration by December 1, 2008 and report to Gov., Lt. Gov., and Speaker on: 1. evaluation of success and recommendations for legislation. Chapter expires September 1, 2009. Amends Chapter 153 of the Occupations Code to add Section 153.016: STUDY ON MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AND MEDICAL RESIDENTS. Requires SBOME to conduct a study on increasing the # of medical residency programs/residents and # of specialty physicians practicing in TX. Must examine feasibility of using physician licensing fees and emphasize/recommend plan of action to increase residency Status/Date
4/27/07 Reported from House Public Health as substituted Bill did not pass, however some of its provisions were added as amendments to SB 10.
HB 3065– See Status column
Truitt
SB 1095 by Uresti
Relating to a study on increasing the number of medical residency programs, medical residents, and
SEE SB 1095 Bill did not pass, however some of its
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for notes SB 141 Nelson
physicians practicing medical specialties in this state.
programs/residents/medical specialty physicians in medically underserved areas. Reporting by December 1, 2008. HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT: makes the bill permissive instead of mandatory. adds in private higher education institutions. Adds Section 61.0661: FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING JOINT HEALTH SCIENCE COURSES to Chapter 61 of the Education Code. Allows THECB with head of each state agency that is a member of the Health Professions Council to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility of higher education institutions providing basic health science curricula courses which students enrolled in different health science/health profession education programs can take together. Study must be completed by September 30, 2008. Reporting to governing board of each higher education institution offering health science/health profession education programs, the governor, and legislature: the feasibility of providing courses, what courses should be offered, which institutions should offer courses, and other relevant issues. Section expires January 1, 2009. CSUB: Adds Chapter 75:REGIONAL OR LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES OF SMALL EMPLOYERS to Title 2 of the Health and Safety Code. Purpose of chapter is to: improve health of small business employees by improving access to health care and reduce # of uninsured; reduce the # of those employees needing state-funded program access; further eco devo by helping small businesses remain competitive with healthy workforce/attractive benefits; and encourage innovative solutions for providing/funding health care benefits. Allows county commissioners court to establish/participate in local health care program. Regional or local health care programs provide services/benefits to participating small business employees and their dependents located within county boundaries. Governing body establishes participation criteria which must include cost-sharing of the program. Allows use of gifts/grants/donations/health opportunity pool funding to fund benefits and reduce cost of participation in program. Gives governing body flexibility to develop another type of program to accomplish purposes of chapter to: 1. reduce uninsured, 2. reduce costs of health care, 3. promote preventative care, 4. promote efficient/collaborative delivery of services, 5. serve as a model for health IT, and 6. provide fair payment rates for providers. Allows regional or local program to purchase/facilitate health benefit plan coverage including: small employer plans under Chapter 1501 Insurance Code, standard health plan under 1507 of Insurance Code, or any other plan available in TX. Allows the establishment of a cooperative. Allows
provisions were added to SB 10.
5/27/07 Sent to the Governor
Relating to a feasibility study regarding joint health science courses at public institutions of higher education. HB 882 by Naishtat Relating to regional health care programs for employees of small employers.
SB 922– See Status column for notes
Watson
5/22/07 Set on House Calendar
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establishment/facilitation of self-funded health benefit plans. Can limit services provided under program. Allows regional/local health care programs to apply for funding through health opportunity pool. Allows HHSC commissioner to establish a grant program to support initial establishment of a demonstration project. HHSC must complete a review of the demonstration by December 1, 2008 and report to Gov., Lt. Gov., and Speaker on: 1. evaluation of success and recommendations for legislation. Chapter expires September 1, 2009. CSUB: Requires the Texas Health Care Policy Council coordinating with the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research at UTSA, the Regional Center for Health Workforce Studies at the Center for Health Economics and Policy of UTHSCSA, and TMB to conduct a study regarding increasing the # of medical residency programs and medical residents in TX and the # of physicians practicing medical specialties. Requires the study to: examine the feasibility of using a % of physician licensing fees to increase the # of medical residency programs/medical residents in TX; recommend a plan of action for increasing the # of medical residency programs/medical residents in medically underserved areas and medical specialties that are underrepresented in TX; and determine the # of residents obtaining licenses to practice in TX upon completion of medical residency programs in TX. Reporting by December 1, 2008. Expires January 1, 2009. As Finally Passed: Requires the HECB to develop a master plan for higher education to: reexamine purpose/needs/goals of higher ed in TX; consider methods to define roles/missions consistent with state needs/goals; consider more effective funding methods; consider longterm student financial aid strategies; recommendations for collaborations between 2 and 4 year institutions; recommendations for collaborations between primary/secondary/postsecondary institutions; consider state’s current needs allocation of resources for medical education, GME, current/needed geographic distribution of resources, and value of associating a med school with a general academic teaching institution; consult with state demographer to assess # of new faculty and disciplines needed, # of those qualified to serve as faculty, and capacity to prepare those qualified to serve as faculty in broad spectrum of disciplines; identify appropriate incentives/requirements for transition between high school/junior college/tech inst/state colleges/general academic teaching inst/medical and dental units; consider current/projected enrollment at UT/A&M; consideration of value of creating additional 4-year flagship public research inst.; analysis of alternative methods of funding with emphasis on research components; consideration to add to TEXAS Grant
SB 1095 – See Status column for notes
Uresti
HB 3065 by Truitt
Relating to a study on increasing the number of medical residency programs, medical residents, and physicians practicing medical specialties in this state.
5/22/07 Set on the House Calendar Bill did not pass, however some of its provisions were added to SB 10. 5/27/07 to Governor
SB 1234
Zaffirini
Relating to a five year master plan for higher education in this state.
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program/other financial aid programs; and consideration of effectiveness of existing family asset-building programs related to higher ed and degree to which programs contribute to certain benchmarks. HB 1151 Eiland SB 171 by Janek Relating to the responsibility of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to provide health care services to certain residents. Relating to the creation and administration of the rural physician training scholarship program. Amends heading to Section 74.005 of the Education Code to read: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PATIENTS; MEDICAL BRANCH AS HOSPITAL OF LAST RESORT. Amends Section 74.005 of the Education Code to add Subsection (d-1). Entitles the medical branch that treats an eligible resident of a county, public hospital, or hospital district to reimbursement of the medical branch's actual costs of providing health care services to that resident from the appropriate county/public hospital/hospital district.
03-14-07 Sent to Public Health: Sub. members: Laubenberg, Coleman, Jackson, Jim
SB 31
Nelson
As Amended on Senate Floor: Transfers bill to Chapter 487 (Office of Rural and Community Affairs) of the Government Code instead of placing it in Chapter 61 of the Education Code. Requires the Office to establish a program to provide loan repayment assistance to physicians and dentists who agree to practice medicine or dentistry in rural medically/dentally underserved areas of the state, and provide medical/dental services to medical assistance program recipient children. Eligibility includes applying to the Office, being licensed to practice in TX, and entering into an agreement with the Office. Allows for repayment assistance for any education loans taken out by eligible physician/dentists for education at any medical/dental school authorized by THEC Board. The agreement must specify conditions to received repayment assistance, require 3 years of practicing medicine/dentistry in a rural medically/dentally underserved area and to medical assistance program child recipients, repayment assistance is a loan until the time requirement is satisfied, and a promissory note must be signed. Repayment assistance is delivered in a lump sum. Allows the Office to receive gifts/grants/donations to help pay for scholarships in addition to appropriated funds from the legislature. Gives the Office rulemaking authority to implement and requires distribution of those rules to each medical/dental school of institutions of higher education in the state. Amends the Government Code by adding Section 531.02114: ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
5/16/07 Pending in House Public Health
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PROVIDERS. Requires establishment of a program for physicians/dentists practicing for 3 years in rural medically/dentally underserved areas to medical assistance program children to be paid an enhanced reimbursement rate 10% higher than the reimbursement otherwise received. Requires money from Frew settlement to be used for loan repayment program. Adds Subtitle I: Higher Education Districts to Title 3 of the Education Code. Adds Chapter 159: Higher Education Enhancement Districts Defines: Coordinating Board, District, Regional university, and Service territory. States purpose of chapter is to enable regional universities and communities served to elect to provide local funding to supplement endowment and scholarship funds/enhance quality of education at university. Requires the HECB to establish service territories for each regional university including areas closest in geographical proximity; that benefit from being served by the university; and which will benefit economically from improvements/services provided by a district. Allows a single service territory to be established for two or more regional universities located in close proximity. Requires published notification of creation of service territories. Requires performance reviews of each district every five years by the HECB. Allows for the creation of one district within each service territory which must include the campus of each regional university located in the service territory. Before districts are created, a public hearing is required. Designates notification requirements for public hearing. The HECB is required after a public hearing to evaluate: 1. the needs of the university/ies in proposed district; 2. extent the creation of a district would meet the needs of the university, enhance the economic area to be served, and provide/enhance educational opportunities in the area to be served by the district; and 3. the extent to which voters in the proposed district support its creation. If the HECB finds it is in the best interest of the residents of the counties to hold an election to authorize creation of a district imposing a sales and use tax, property tax, or combination to fund, it will submit findings in petition form to the county judge of each county within the district. States requirements of the petition, filing, hearing, and ordering an election. Commissioners court of each county is the canvassing authority. If defeated, another authorization election can only be held after one year from the date of the election. The district is governed by a board of five supervisors elected in May of each year serving staggered two year terms. The initial supervisors election will draw lots to determine which two will serve one year terms and which three will initially serve 2 year terms. After initial election, single-member election districts within the district will be established. Candidates
SB 146
West
Relating to the creation of higher education enhancement districts and authorizing sales and use taxes and property taxes.
01-29-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance
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must be residents of the single-member election district seeking to represent and a qualified voter. Portions of the service territory can be added to the district in the same way territory is added to junior college districts. Subchapter E: Sales and Use Tax Chapter 323 (County Sales and Use Tax Act) of the Tax Code applies to this chapter in the same manner. Establishes a limitation on the tax rate not to exceed any of the following: 1. the lesser of 1/2 of 1% of taxable receipts or the maximum tax rate approved at election; 2. rate that would generate $30 million in taxes for each regional university; or 3. rate that would generate $60 in taxes for each semester credit hour used by LBB to establish base level of appropriations funding. Establishes a reduction in tax rate for each year in which collections exceed the limitation. Tax rates must be in increments not less than 1/8 of 1%. Effective date of tax is the first day of the first calendar quarter after the expiration of the first complete calendar quarter in which the comptroller receives a notice of election results creating district. If another law imposes a limit on the combined sales tax rate, the total limit by that law is increased 1/2 of 1%. Subchapter F: Property Taxes Requires approval of the tax by voters in district authorizing creation of district. Establishes a limitation on the rate, set annually by board of supervisors, not to exceed any of the following: 1. maximum rate approved at election authorizing tax; 2. rate that would generate $30 million in taxes for each regional university in the district; or 3. rate that would generate $60 in taxes for each semester credit hour used by LBB to establish base level of appropriations funding. If the taxes collected exceed any of these, the rate for the next year is reduced by the amount of excess. Allows the district to employ a person to assess/collect taxes for the district or to contract out. In additions to limits listed above, if the district imposes both a sales and use and a property tax, the rates together may not generate a total amount of taxes more than $30 million for each regional university in the district or $60 in taxes for each semester credit hour used by the LBB to establish the base level of appropriations funding. Allows for a reduction in following year's taxes if an excess is collected in previous year. Board of Supervisors of a district retains portion of revenue necessary to cover district's expenses and delivers the remaining revenue to the regional university/ies for which district is created. If there is more than one university in a district, the board of supervisors will apportion money according to number of semester credit hours used by LBB. Regional universities are required to use revenue as follows: 1. 1/3 to provide scholarships to
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students based on academic, fine art, or performing art merit; 2. 1/3 deposited in endowment funds to support educational or research activities of university; and 3. 1/3 to facility construction/maintenance, economic development programs and cultural programs approved by university governing board and district board of supervisors to make university a focal point of regional activity and connect university to community served. Chapter and tax revenue received under this chapter do not affect entitlement funds including formula funding regional universities receive under law. Districts can be dissolved by a majority of qualified voters in the district. A petition of 15% of registered voters in a district can have district dissolved after 12th anniversary of creation election date. Establishes election and canvassing procedures as well as dissolution procedures. Subchapter F: Property Taxes requires approval of a constitutional amendment. Amends heading to Section 74.005 of the Education Code to read: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PATIENTS; MEDICAL BRANCH AS HOSPITAL OF LAST RESORT. Amends Section 74.005 of the Education Code to add Subsection (d-1). Entitles the medical branch that treats an eligible resident of a county, public hospital, or hospital district to reimbursement of the medical branch's actual costs of providing health care services to that resident from the appropriate county/public hospital/hospital district.
SB 171
Janek
HB 1151 by Eiland
SB 674
Zaffirini
Relating to the responsibility of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to provide health care services to certain residents. Relating to health benefit plan coverage for routine patient care costs for enrollees participating in certain clinical trials.
01-29-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Health and Human Services
Adds Chapter 1379: COVERAGE FOR ROUTINE PATIENT CARE COSTS FOR ENROLLEES PARTICIPATINIG IN CERTAIN CLINICAL TRIALS to Title 8 of the Insurance Code. Defines: "enrollee", "life-threatening disease or condition" as one where death is probable unless the course of the disease is interrupted, and "research institution" as the institution/person conducting phase I/II/III/IV clinical trials. Chapter applies to health benefit plans providing benefits for medical/surgical expenses resulting from health condition/accident/sickness. Lists applicable coverage/covering entities. Includes group health coverage from school districts, health and accident coverage from risk pools. To extent allowed by federal law, applies to state Medicaid program and managed care organization contracting with HHSC for Medicaid services. Lists exclusions from applicability of chapter as plans: for wages/payments for loss of work due to injury/sickness, liability insurance
5/17/07 Voted favorably from Senate State Affairs as substituted
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supplemental policies, credit insurance, dental/vision care, only for hospital expenses, indemnity hospital confinement, Medicare supplemental policies, workers' comp policies, coverage under motor vehicle policies, or long-term care policies unless determined to be comprehensive by Commissioner. Gives TDI Commissioner rule-making authority to implement. Subchapter B: COVERAGE FOR ROUTINE PATIENT CARE COSTS. Specifies costs are of any medically necessary health care service benefits provided under health care plan regardless of participation in a clinical trial. Excludes from routine patient care costs: 1. cost of investigational drugs/devices not approved for any indication by FDA, including drug/device which is subject of trial, 2. cost of non-health care services regardless of whether service is necessary in connection with trial, 3. cost of service inconsistent with widely accepted/established standards of care for diagnosis, or 4. clinical trial management costs. Requires coverage by health benefit plan managers for routine patient care costs in connection with phase I/II/III/IV clinical trials if trial is in relation to prevention/detection/treatment of life-threatening disease/condition and is approved by: NIH, FDA, DOD, DVA, or other entity supporting clinical trials research meeting NIH grant standards. Health benefit plan issuers are not required to reimburse institutions unless research institution and each health care professional providing routine patient care agrees to accept reimbursement under plan at rates established as payment in full for routine patient care provided in connection with clinical trial. Issuers are not required to provide benefits for services which are subject matter of trial and are paid for by research institution. Does not require issuers to provide benefits for services provided outside of provider network unless out-of-network benefits are provided under plan. Does not require plan issuer to provide services outside of TX unless plan otherwise provides benefits for services outside of TX. Allows benefits to be subject to a deductible/coinsurance/copayment requirement comparable to others under plan. Applies only to plans issued/renewed after January 1, 2008. Establishes the University of North Texas Health Science Center Health Institutes of Texas to develop comprehensive solutions for health care problems; map health issues; and build models of provider training/delivery. Can include any public/private medical/dental/nursing/health care institution in area served. Managed by UNTHSC at Fort Worth. Operating costs from UNTHSC or any other participating institution. Requires HECB to develop/implement a pilot project using non mission-specific funding formulas to make appropriations recommendations for professional nursing programs offered by health-related institutions and using %ages for dividing money among professional
SB 1248
Nelson
Relating to the establishment of the University of North Texas Health Science Center Health Institutes of Texas Relating to a pilot project regarding funding for
SB 1860
Zaffirini
3/14/07 Introduced and referred to Senate Subcommittee on Higher Ed 4/5/07 Meeting Cancelled,
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professional nursing education programs offered by general academic teaching institutions and health-related institutions. Relating to establishing a commission to study and report on the allocation of state resources for medical education.
nursing education program formulas. Participating general academic institutions will be required to maintain a 13 to 1 faculty-student ratio and report to Board by December 1, 2012 on effects of funding/ratio changes.
Senate Subcommittee on Higher Ed
SB 1919
Watson
Amends Chapter 51 of the Education Code to create a commission to study and report on allocation of state resources for medical education. Commission is composed of 9 members to study: 1. state's allocation of resources for medical education, 2. geographic distribution, 3. value, 4. need for/cost of new medical school, 5. capacity of public/private institutions, and 6. any other matter. Reporting by Sept. 1, 2008.
4/16/07 Committee action pending Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education 01-29-07 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance
SJR 9
West
Relating to permitting a district created to provided local funding to support public institutions of higher education to impose an ad valorem tax if approved by the voters of the district.
Constitutional amendment for Subchapter F of SB 146. Allows authorization of a district whose purpose is to provide local funding to support educational programs at public institutions of higher education to impose an ad valorem tax on property in the district upon approval by majority of voters in the district.
SJR 18
Zaffirini
Relating to extending the period of maturity for bonds and notes issued by certain higher education entities.
Constitutional Amendment Amends Section 17(e) of Article II of the Constitution to extend the term of maturity for bonds/notes issued by higher education entities from 10 years to 30 years.
2/21/07 Introduced and referred to Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education
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