25 TAC §§500.601, 500.603, 500.605, 500.607
The Office of Rural Community (office) proposes new §§500.601,
500.603, 500.605, and 500.607, concerning the Community Healthcare Awareness
and Mentoring Program (the Mentoring Program). Specifically, these rules cover
definitions; purpose, and duties of the Mentoring Program; administration
and grant eligibility requirements.
The proposed new rules will assist the office in implementing the Mentoring
Program, which is designed to identify, encourage and support potential health
care professionals from rural and underserved urban areas.
The new rules will implement the provisions of Acts 2001, 77th Legislative
Session, Chapter H (House Bill 1124). This bill amends the Health and Safety
Code, Chapter 106.
New §500.601 covers definitions; new §500.603 defines the purposes
and duties of the Mentoring Program. New §500.605 covers the administration
of the Mentoring Program; new §500.607 describes grant eligibility requirements.
Robt. J. "Sam" Tessen, MS, Executive Director for the Office of Rural Community
Affairs, has determined for the first five years the sections are in effect,
there will be no fiscal implications to local governments. Mr. Tessen has
also determined that for each of the first five years the sections are in
effect, there will be no fiscal implications to the state government as a
result of administering or enforcing the sections as proposed.
Mr. Tessen has also determined that for the first five years the sections
are in effect, anticipated public benefits include loans, stipends, and practice
opportunities for eligible recipients. Mr. Tessen has further determined that
there will not be an adverse impact on micro-businesses and small businesses
because the communities that will benefit from this program lack adequate
health professionals. The recruitment and retention of health professionals
to these communities will not impact private industry. There will not be anticipated
economic costs to persons who receive the services. There will not be any
anticipated impact on local employment.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Robt. J. "Sam" Tessen, MPA,
Executive Director, Office of Rural Community Affairs, P.O. Drawer 12877,
Austin, Texas 78711. (512-936-6701) Comments will be accepted for 30 days
following the date of publication of this proposal in the
Texas Register
.
The new sections are proposed under the Health and Safety Code, §106.021
that provides the office's executive committee to adopt rules for its procedures
and the performance of each duty imposed by law on the office.
The proposed new sections affect the Health and Safety Code, Chapters 106
and 110 and the Education Code, Chapter 61.
§500.601.Definition of Terms.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have
the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1)
Program--The Community Healthcare Awareness and Mentoring
Program for Students, established to identify, encourage, and support potential
health care professionals from rural and underserved urban areas. The executive
committee shall establish the Program.
(2)
Office--The Office of Rural Community Affairs
(3)
Executive Committee--The governing body for the Office
of Rural Community Affairs.
(4)
Health Care Professional--Any provider of health care or
health related services in the fields of medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy,
chiropractic, podiatry, psychology, nursing, speech-language pathology, social
work and veterinary medicine.
(5)
Health Care Professions--The fields of medicine, dentistry,
optometry, pharmacy, chiropractic, podiatry, psychology, nursing, speech-language
pathology, social work and veterinary medicine.
(6)
Underserved Urban Area--An urban area of this state with
a medically underserved population, as determined in accordance with criteria
adopted by the board by rule , considering relevant demographic, geographic
and environmental factors.
(7)
Recipient--An eligible student enrolled or intending to
be enrolled in a training or educational program, to become a health professional
who receives a grant through the Program.
§500.603.The Purposes and Duties of the Community Healthcare Awareness and Mentoring Program for Students.
The Community Healthcare Awareness and Mentoring Program for Students:
(1)
identifies:
(A)
high school students in rural and underserved urban areas
who are interested in serving those areas as health care professionals; and
(B)
health care professionals in rural and underserved urban
areas to serve as role models, mentors or reference resources for those interested
high school students;
(2)
introduces interested high school students to the spectrum
of professional health care careers through activities such as health care
camps and observing health care professionals;
(3)
encourages a continued interest in service as health care
professionals in rural and underserved urban areas by providing mentors and
community resources for students participating in training or educational
program to become health care processionals;
(4)
provides continuing community-based support for students
during the period the students are attending training or educational programs
to become health care professionals, including summer job opportunities and
opportunities to mentor high school students in the community; and
(5)
establishes and maintains an updated medical resource library
by the Office that contains information related to medical careers which is
available to school counselors, students, and parents of students.
§500.605.Administration.
(a)
The office shall administer or contract for the administration
of the Program.
(b)
The office may administer the program in cooperation with
other public and private entities.
(c)
The office may accept and solicit gifts, grants, donations
and contributions to support the Program.
(d)
The office shall coordinate the Program with similar programs
including programs relating to workforce development, scholarships for education
and employment of students that are administered by other agency such as the
Texas Workforce commission and local workforce development boards.
§500.607.Grant Eligibility Requirements.
(a)
Priority for grants will be given by the executive committee
to training or educational programs that provide internships to students.
(b)
Eligible grant recipients must:
(1)
apply for the grant on a form adopted by the executive
committee;
(2)
be enrolled or intend to be enrolled in a healthcare professional
training or educational program;
(3)
after licensure as a healthcare professional, commit to
practice or work in a rural or underserved urban area in this state;
(4)
fully comply with any practice or requirements associated
with any scholarship, loan, or other benefits received by the student;
(5)
agree to repay two times the amount of the grant, if:
(A)
the recipient fails to become licensed; or
(B)
the recipient becomes licensed and fails to practice or
work for at least one year as a healthcare professional in a rural or urban
underserved area of this state.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal
has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal
authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on January 31, 2002.
TRD-200200593
Robt. J. "Sam" Tessen
Executive Director
Center for Rural Health Initiatives
Earliest possible date of adoption: March 17, 2002
For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710