TITLE 10.COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Part 6. OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Chapter 257. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

The Office of Rural Community Affairs (Office) adopts the repeal of §§257.1, 257.3 - 257.9, 257.61 - 257.73, 257.501, 257.503, 257.505, 257.507, 257.509, 257.511, 257.513, 257.515, 257.517, 257.519, 257.521, 257.523, 257.525, and 257.527 and adopts amendments to §§257.21 - 257.30, 257.101, 257.103, 257.105, 257.107, 257.109, 257.201, 257.203, 257.205, 257.207, 257.209, 257.211, 257.213, 257.215, 257.217, 257.301, 257.303, 257.305, 257.307, 257.309, 257.311, 257.313, 257.315, 257.317, 257.319, 257.321, 257.325, 257.327, 257.401 - 257.411, 257.701, 257.703, 257.801, and 257.807 without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 21, 2005, issue of the Texas Register (30 TexReg 6880).

The Office of Rural Community Affairs (Office) deletes §§257.1, 257.3 - 257.9 of the Texas Administrative Code to eliminate the duplication of rural health program rules contained in Subchapter D, §§257.101, 257.103, 257.105, 257.107, and 257.109 relating to the operation, organization and respective responsibilities of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director in the administration of the rural health program.

The adopted amendments delete all references to the Center for Rural Health Initiatives and substitute Office of Rural Community Affairs. The amendments will also eliminate the rules addressing the Community Scholarship and Rural Emergency Medical Scholarship Incentive Programs (REMSIP). The Community Scholarship Program was eliminated when Congress failed to continue to fund the program.

Subchapter A is revised to eliminate the duplication of rural health program rules relating to the operation, organization and respective responsibilities of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director in the administration of the rural health program. Subchapter C is revised to reflect the elimination of the Community Scholarship program when the U.S. Congress failed to continue to fund the program. Subchapter H was revised when the REMSIP program was eliminated because of the high rate of default by grantees. Subchapter B, Texas Outstanding Rural Scholar Recognition Program, Subchapter D, Texas Rural Physician Assistant Loan Reimbursement Program, Subchapter E, Texas Health Service Corps Program, Subchapter F, Medically Underserved Community-State Matching Incentive Program, Subchapter G, Permanent Fund for Rural Health Facility Capital Improvement, Subchapter J, Designation of a Hospital as a Rural Hospital, and Subchapter K, Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program were primarily revised to reflect that the programs are being administered by the Office of Rural Community Affairs and not the Center for Rural Health.

Subchapter B, the Texas Outstanding Rural Scholar Recognition Program §§257.22 - 257.30, Subchapter D, the Texas Rural Physician Assistant Loan Reimbursement Program, §§257.101, 257.103, 257.105, 257.107 and 257.109, Subchapter E, the Texas Health Service Corps Program, §§257.201, 257. 203, 257.205, 257.207, 257.209, 257.211, 257.213, 257.215, and 257.217, Subchapter F, the Medically Underserved Community-State Matching Incentive Program, §§257.301, 257.303, 257.305, 257.307, 257.309, 257.311, 257.313, 257.315, 257.317, 257.319, 257.321, 257.323, 257.325, and 257.327, Subchapter G, Permanent Fund for Rural Health Facility Capital Improvement, §§257.401 - 257.411, Subchapter J, §§257.701, 257.703, 257.705, and 257.707 and Subchapter K, §257.801 and §257.807 have been revised to reflect that the rural health program is being administered by the Office of Rural Community Affairs and no longer being administered by the Center for Rural Health.

Also deleted is Subchapter C, §§257.61 - 257.73 which addresses the rural health Community Scholarship program. The Community Scholarship program was eliminated when the U.S. Congress failed to continue to fund the program.

Also deleted is Subchapter H, the Rural Emergency Medical Scholarship Incentive Program (REMSIP). The REMSIP program, which was a pilot program, was a rural health program which became inactive because of a high rate of default by the grantees. The program has been replaced with other pilot programs including the EMS Education Program, the Critical Access Hospital/EMS and the Rural EMS Enhancement Program.

The repeals will eliminate duplicate procedures and processes provided for in agency rules Title 10, Part 6, Chapters 255, 256 and 257 of the Texas Administrative Code.

The revision adopts the definition of Rural Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) as defined in this agency's enabling legislation.

No comments were received by the Office in response to the publication of the proposed rules.

Subchapter A. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

10 TAC §§257.1, 257.3 - 257.9

The repeals are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487 §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the repeals.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600043

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710


Subchapter B. TEXAS OUTSTANDING RURAL SCHOLAR RECOGNITION PROGRAM

10 TAC §§257.21 - 257.30

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487 §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600046

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710


Subchapter C. COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

10 TAC §§257.61 - 257.73

The repeals are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487 §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the repeals.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600047

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710


Subchapter D. TEXAS RURAL PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

10 TAC §§257.101, 257.103, 257.105, 257.107, 257.109

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487 §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600048

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710


Subchapter E. TEXAS HEALTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM

10 TAC §§257.201, 257.203, 257.205, 257.207, 257.209, 257.211, 257.213, 257.215, 257.217

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487 §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600049

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710


Subchapter F. MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY-STATE MATCHING INCENTIVE PROGRAM

10 TAC §§257.301, 257.303, 257.305, 257.307, 257.309, 257.311, 257.313, 257.315, 257.317, 257.319, 257.321, 257.325, 257.327

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487, §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600050

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6701


Subchapter G. PERMANENT FUND FOR RURAL HEALTH FACILITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT

10 TAC §§257.401 - 257.411

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487, §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600051

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6701


Subchapter H. RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SCHOLARSHIP INCENTIVE PROGRAM

10 TAC §§257.501, 257.503, 257.505, 257.507, 257.509, 257.511, 257.513, 257.515, 257.517, 257.519, 257.521, 257.523, 257.525, 257.527

The repeals are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487, §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the repeals.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600052

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6701


Subchapter J. DESIGNATION OF A HOSPITAL AS A RURAL HOSPITAL

10 TAC §257.701, §257.703

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487, §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600060

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6701


Subchapter K. RURAL COMMUNITIES HEALTH CARE INVESTMENT PROGRAM

10 TAC §257.801, §257.807

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Chapter 487, §487.052 of the Texas Government Code which authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

There are no other codes, articles or statutes affected by the amendments.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 4, 2006.

TRD-200600061

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: January 24, 2006

Proposal publication date: October 21, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6701