Bill Text: TX HB1493 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the transfer of programs from the Texas Department of Rural Affairs to the Department of Agriculture.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-24 - Effective on 9/1/13 [HB1493 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB1493-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 1493
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the transfer of programs from the Texas Department of
  Rural Affairs to the Department of Agriculture.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.0899, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.0899.  ASSISTANCE IN CERTAIN RURAL HEALTH CARE LOAN
  REIMBURSEMENT AND STIPEND PROGRAMS. The board shall, in
  cooperation with the [Texas] Department of Agriculture [Rural
  Affairs and the department's advisory panel established under
  Section 487.552, Government Code], ensure that the board seeks to
  obtain the maximum amount of funds from any source, including
  federal funds, to support programs to provide student loan
  reimbursement or stipends for graduates of degree programs in this
  state who practice or agree to practice in a medically underserved
  community.
         SECTION 2.  Section 487.001(3), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (3)  "Department" means the Department of Agriculture
  [office].
         SECTION 3.  Section 487.026, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.026.  DIRECTOR. [(a)]  The director serves as the
  chief executive officer of the office and performs the
  administrative duties of the office.
         [(b)   The director may hire staff within guidelines
  established by the commissioner.]
         SECTION 4.  Section 487.051(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The office shall:
               (1)  assist rural communities in the key areas of
  economic development, community development, rural health, and
  rural housing;
               (2)  serve as a clearinghouse for information and
  resources on all state and federal programs affecting rural
  communities;
               (3)  in consultation with rural community leaders,
  locally elected officials, state elected and appointed officials,
  academic and industry experts, and the interagency work group
  created under this chapter, identify and prioritize policy issues
  and concerns affecting rural communities in the state;
               (4)  make recommendations to the legislature to address
  the concerns affecting rural communities identified under
  Subdivision (3);
               (5)  monitor developments that have a substantial
  effect on rural Texas communities, especially actions of state
  government[, and compile an annual report describing and evaluating
  the condition of rural communities];
               (6)  administer the federal community development
  block grant nonentitlement program;
               (7)  administer programs supporting rural health care
  as provided by this chapter;
               (8)  perform research to determine the most beneficial
  and cost-effective ways to improve the welfare of rural
  communities;
               (9)  ensure that the office qualifies as the state's
  office of rural health for the purpose of receiving grants from the
  Office of Rural Health Policy of the United States Department of
  Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. Section 254r;
               (10)  manage the state's Medicare rural hospital
  flexibility program under 42 U.S.C. Section 1395i-4;
               (11)  seek state and federal money available for
  economic development in rural areas for programs under this
  chapter;
               (12)  in conjunction with other offices and divisions
  of the department [Department of Agriculture], regularly
  cross-train office employees with other employees of the department
  [Department of Agriculture] regarding the programs administered
  and services provided to rural communities; and
               (13)  work with interested persons to assist volunteer
  fire departments and emergency services districts in rural areas.
         SECTION 5.  Section 487.052, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.052.  RULES. The department [board] may adopt
  rules as necessary to implement this chapter.
         SECTION 6.  Section 487.060(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  To assist the secretary of state in preparing the report
  required under Section 405.021, the department on an annual [a
  quarterly] basis shall provide a report to the secretary of state
  detailing any projects funded by the department that serve colonias
  by providing water or wastewater services, paved roads, or other
  assistance.
         SECTION 7.  Section 487.061, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.061.  EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT PROGRAM. (a)
  The department shall serve as a resource [establish a program] to
  provide interested rural communities with:
               (1)  general information about emergency services
  districts; and
               (2)  information and training related to the
  establishment of an emergency services district[; and
               [(3)     technical assistance related to the
  implementation of an emergency services district].
         (b)  The department [program] may:
               (1)  [assist fire departments in rural areas with the
  recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters;
               [(2)]  provide to fire departments in rural areas
  information relating to assistance programs offered to rural
  volunteer firefighters, including the federal Staffing for
  Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program to help fire
  departments increase staffing and deployment capabilities; and
               (2) [(3)]  provide to rural homeowners information
  relating to the benefits of volunteer fire departments, including a
  reduction in homeowners insurance risk ratings, lower homeowners
  insurance rates, and better fire protection.
         SECTION 8.  Sections 487.103(a), (b), and (c), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The selection committee shall advise the department
  [board] on the progress of the program.
         (b)  The selection committee is composed of 12 members
  appointed by the commissioner [board].
         (c)  The commissioner [board] shall consider geographical
  representation in making appointments to the selection committee.
         SECTION 9.  Sections 487.104(b) and (d), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The selection committee shall make selections based on
  criteria approved by the department [board] and adopted as a rule of
  the department.
         (d)  The selection committee shall recommend to the
  department [board] guidelines to be used by rural communities in
  the selection of students for nomination and sponsorship as
  outstanding rural scholars.
         SECTION 10.  Section 487.107, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.107.  AWARDING OF LOANS. (a) The selection
  committee shall recommend to the department [board] guidelines for
  the awarding of forgivable loans to outstanding rural scholars.
         (b)  The department [board], acting on the advice of the
  selection committee, shall award forgivable loans to outstanding
  rural scholars based on the availability of money in the fund.
         (c)  If in any year the fund is inadequate to provide loans to
  all eligible applicants, the department [board] shall award
  forgivable loans on a priority basis according to the applicants'
  academic performance, test scores, and other criteria of
  eligibility.
         SECTION 11.  Section 487.108(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  On confirmation of an outstanding rural scholar's
  admission to a postsecondary educational institution, or on receipt
  of an enrollment report of the scholar at a postsecondary
  educational institution, and a certification of the amount of
  financial support needed, the selection committee annually shall
  recommend to the department [board] that the department [board]
  award a forgivable loan to the scholar in the amount of 50 percent
  of the cost of the scholar's tuition, fees, educational materials,
  and living expenses.
         SECTION 12.  Sections 487.109(b), (c), and (d), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The sponsoring community shall report to the department
  [board] the length of time the scholar practices as a health care
  professional in the community.
         (c)  If the department [board] finds that a sponsoring
  community is not in need of the scholar's services and that the
  community is willing to forgive repayment of the principal balance
  and interest of the scholar's loan, the department [board] by rule
  may provide for the principal balance and interest of one year of
  the scholar's loan to be forgiven for each year the scholar
  practices in another rural community in this state.
         (d)  Any amount of loan principal or interest that is not
  forgiven under this section shall be repaid to the department with
  reasonable collection fees in a timely manner as provided by
  department [board] rule.
         SECTION 13.  Section 487.112, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.112.  ADOPTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF RULES. (a) The
  department [board] shall adopt reasonable rules to enforce the
  requirements, conditions, and limitations under this subchapter.
         (b)  The department [board] shall set the rate of interest
  charged on a forgivable loan under this subchapter.
         (c)  The department [board] shall adopt rules necessary to
  ensure compliance with the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
  U.S.C. Section 2000a et seq.) concerning nondiscrimination in
  admissions.
         SECTION 14.  Section 487.152(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to available funding, the [The] department
  shall administer or contract for the administration of the program.
         SECTION 15.  Section 487.154, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.154.  LOANS. (a) The department [board] may award
  forgivable educational loans to eligible students under this
  subchapter.
         (b)  The department [board] may award forgivable loans to
  eligible students based on the availability of money in the fund.
         (c)  If in any year the fund is inadequate to provide loans to
  all eligible students, the department [board] may award forgivable
  loans on a priority basis according to the students' academic
  performance, test scores, and other criteria of eligibility.
         SECTION 16.  Section 487.155(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible to receive a loan under this subchapter,
  a student must:
               (1)  be sponsored by an eligible community;
               (2)  at the time of the application for the loan, be
  enrolled in high school or enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a
  postsecondary educational institution in this state;
               (3)  meet academic requirements as established by the
  department [board];
               (4)  plan to complete a health care professional degree
  or certificate program;
               (5)  plan to practice as a health care professional in a
  qualified area of the state; and
               (6)  meet other requirements as established by the
  department [board].
         SECTION 17.  Section 487.156(c), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  The department [board] shall determine the percentage
  of educational expenses communities are required to provide under
  this section.
         SECTION 18.  Section 487.157(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  On confirmation of an eligible student's admission to a
  postsecondary educational institution, or on receipt of an
  enrollment report of the student at a postsecondary educational
  institution, and certification of the amount of financial support
  needed, the department [board] may award a forgivable loan to the
  student in the amount of not more than the cost of the student's
  tuition, fees, educational materials, and living expenses.
         SECTION 19.  Section 487.158(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The contract must provide that if the student does not
  provide the required services to the community or provides those
  services for less than the required time, the student is personally
  liable to the state for:
               (1)  the total amount of assistance the student
  receives from the department and the sponsoring community;
               (2)  interest on the total amount at a rate set by the
  department [board]; and
               (3)  the state's reasonable expenses incurred in
  obtaining payment, including reasonable attorney's fees.
         SECTION 20.  Section 487.159(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  If the department [board] finds that a sponsoring
  community is not in need of the student's services and that the
  community is willing to forgive repayment of the principal balance
  and interest of the student's loan, the department [board] by rule
  may provide for the principal balance and interest of the student's
  loan to be forgiven if the student provides services in another
  qualified area in this state.
         SECTION 21.  Sections 487.161(b) and (c), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The sponsoring community shall report to the office
  [board] the length of time the student provides health care
  services in the community in accordance with the guidelines
  established by the department [board].
         (c)  A postsecondary educational institution shall provide
  to the office [board] a copy of the academic transcript of each
  student for whom the institution has received a release that
  complies with state and federal open records laws and that
  authorizes the provision of the transcript.
         SECTION 22.  Section 487.163, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.163.  ADOPTION OF RULES. (a) The department
  [board] shall adopt reasonable rules to enforce the requirements,
  conditions, and limitations of this subchapter.
         (b)  The department [board] shall set the rate of interest
  charged on a forgivable loan under this subchapter.
         (c)  The department [board] shall adopt rules necessary to
  ensure compliance with the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
  U.S.C. Section 2000a et seq.) concerning nondiscrimination in
  admissions.
         SECTION 23.  Sections 487.202(a), (d), and (e), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department [board] shall establish and administer a
  program under this subchapter to increase the number of physicians
  providing primary care in medically underserved communities.
         (d)  The department may not pay more than $25,000 to a
  community in a fiscal year unless the office [board] makes a
  specific finding of need by the community.
         (e)  The office [board] shall establish priorities so that
  the neediest communities eligible for assistance under this
  subchapter are assured the receipt of a grant.
         SECTION 24.  Sections 487.203 and 487.204, Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 487.203.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive money
  from the department, a medically underserved community must:
               (1)  apply for the money; and
               (2)  provide evidence satisfactory to the office
  [board] that it has entered into an agreement with a physician for
  the physician to provide primary care in the community for at least
  two years.
         Sec. 487.204.  RULES. The department [board] shall adopt
  rules necessary for the administration of this subchapter,
  including rules addressing:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for a medically underserved
  community;
               (2)  eligibility criteria for a physician;
               (3)  minimum and maximum community contributions to the
  start-up money for a physician to be matched with state money;
               (4)  conditions under which state money must be repaid
  by a community or physician;
               (5)  procedures for disbursement of money by the
  department;
               (6)  the form and manner in which a community must make
  its contribution to the start-up money; and
               (7)  the contents of an agreement to be entered into by
  the parties, which must include at least:
                     (A)  a credit check for an eligible physician; and
                     (B)  community retention of interest in any
  property, equipment, or durable goods for seven years.
         SECTION 25.  Section 487.252, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.252.  TEXAS HEALTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM. (a)
  Subject to available funding, the department [The board] shall
  establish a program [in the department] to assist communities in
  recruiting and retaining physicians to practice in medically
  underserved areas.
         (b)  The department [board] by rule shall establish:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for applicants;
               (2)  stipend application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to stipend amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating stipend applications;
  and
               (5)  a system of priorities relating to the:
                     (A)  geographic areas covered;
                     (B)  medical specialties eligible to receive
  funding under the program; and
                     (C)  level of stipend support.
         SECTION 26.  Section 487.253(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The department [board] shall adopt rules necessary to
  administer this subchapter, and the department shall administer the
  program in accordance with those rules.
         SECTION 27.  Section 487.351(c), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  The department shall give priority to eligible
  activities in the areas of economic development, community
  development, and rural health[, and rural housing] to support
  workforce development in awarding funding for community
  development block grant programs.
         SECTION 28.  Section 487.401, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.401.  ADMINISTRATION. (a) The department [board]
  shall adopt rules that establish a procedure for designating a
  hospital as a rural hospital in order for the hospital to qualify
  for federal funds under 42 C.F.R. Part 412.
         (b)  At the hospital's request, the department shall
  designate the hospital as a rural hospital if the hospital meets the
  requirements for a rural hospital under the department's [board's]
  rules.
         SECTION 29.  Sections 487.451(1) and (3), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Health care professional" means:
                     (A)  an advanced nurse practitioner;
                     (B)  a dentist;
                     (C)  a dental hygienist;
                     (D)  a laboratory technician;
                     (E)  a licensed vocational nurse;
                     (F)  a licensed professional counselor;
                     (G)  a medical radiological technologist;
                     (H)  an occupational therapist;
                     (I)  a pharmacist;
                     (J)  a physical therapist;
                     (K)  a physician;
                     (L)  a physician assistant;
                     (M)  a psychologist;
                     (N)  a registered nurse;
                     (O)  a social worker;
                     (P)  a speech-language pathologist;
                     (Q)  a veterinarian;
                     (R)  a chiropractor; and
                     (S)  another appropriate health care professional
  identified by the department [board].
               (3)  "Underserved urban area" means an urban area of
  this state with a medically underserved population, as determined
  in accordance with criteria adopted by the department [board] by
  rule, considering relevant demographic, geographic, and
  environmental factors.
         SECTION 30.  Section 487.452(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to available funding, the department [The
  board], in collaboration with Area Health Education Center
  Programs, shall establish a community healthcare awareness and
  mentoring program for students to:
               (1)  identify high school students in rural and
  underserved urban areas who are interested in serving those areas
  as health care professionals;
               (2)  identify health care professionals in rural and
  underserved urban areas to act as positive role models, mentors, or
  reference resources for the interested high school students;
               (3)  introduce interested high school students to the
  spectrum of professional health care careers through activities
  such as health care camps and shadowing of health care
  professionals;
               (4)  encourage 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 programs to become health
  care professionals; and
               (5)  provide 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.
         SECTION 31.  Section 487.454, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.454.  GRANTS; ELIGIBILITY. (a) Subject to
  available funding, the department [funds, the board] shall develop
  and implement, as a component of the program, a grant program to
  support employment opportunities in rural and underserved urban
  areas in this state for students participating in training or
  educational programs to become health care professionals.
         (b)  In awarding grants under the program, the department
  [board] shall give first priority to grants to training or
  educational programs that provide internships to students.
         (c)  To be eligible to receive a grant under the grant
  program, a person must:
               (1)  apply for the grant on a form adopted by the
  department [board];
               (2)  be enrolled or intend to be enrolled in a training
  or educational program to become a health care professional;
               (3)  commit to practice or work, after licensure as a
  health care professional, for at least one year as a health care
  professional in a rural or underserved urban area in this state; and
               (4)  comply fully with any practice or requirements
  associated with any scholarship, loan, or other similar benefit
  received by the student.
         (d)  As a condition of receiving a grant under the program
  the student must agree to repay the amount of the grant, plus a
  penalty in an amount established by rule of the department [board]
  not to exceed two times the amount of the grant, if the student
  becomes licensed as a health care professional and fails to
  practice or work for at least one year as a health care professional
  in a rural or underserved urban area in this state.
         SECTION 32.  Section 487.503(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to available funding, the [The] department
  shall establish a process in consultation with the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board for selecting Texas medical schools to
  recruit students from rural communities and encourage them to
  return to rural communities to practice medicine.
         SECTION 33.  Section 487.553, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.553.  LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. Subject to
  available funding, the department [The board] shall establish a
  program [in the department] to assist communities in recruiting
  health professionals to practice in medically underserved
  communities by providing loan reimbursement for health
  professionals who serve in those communities.
         SECTION 34.  Sections 487.554(a) and (b), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to available funding, the department [The
  board] shall establish a program [in the department] to assist
  communities in recruiting health professionals to practice in
  medically underserved communities by providing a stipend to health
  professionals who agree to serve in those communities.
         (b)  A stipend awarded under this section may [shall] be paid
  in periodic installments.
         SECTION 35.  Section 487.555(e), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  A contract under this section must provide that a health
  professional who does not provide the required services to the
  community or provides those services for less than the required
  time is personally liable to the state for:
               (1)  the total amount of assistance the health
  professional received from the department and the medically
  underserved community;
               (2)  interest on the amount under Subdivision (1) at a
  rate set by the department [board];
               (3)  the state's reasonable expenses incurred in
  obtaining payment, including reasonable attorney's fees; and
               (4)  a penalty as established by the department [board]
  by rule to help ensure compliance with the contract.
         SECTION 36.  Section 487.556, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.556.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. (a) The
  department [board] shall adopt rules necessary for the
  administration of this subchapter, including guidelines for:
               (1)  developing contracts under which loan
  reimbursement or stipend recipients provide services to qualifying
  communities;
               (2)  identifying the duties of the state, state agency,
  loan reimbursement or stipend recipient, and medically underserved
  community under the loan reimbursement or stipend contract;
               (3)  determining a rate of interest to be charged under
  Section 487.555(e)(2);
               (4)  ensuring that a loan reimbursement or stipend
  recipient provides access to health services to participants in
  government-funded health benefits programs in qualifying
  communities;
               (5)  encouraging the use of telecommunications or
  telemedicine, as appropriate;
               (6)  prioritizing the provision of loan reimbursements
  and stipends to health professionals who are not eligible for any
  other state loan forgiveness, loan repayment, or stipend program;
               (7)  prioritizing the provision of loan reimbursements
  and stipends to health professionals who are graduates of health
  professional degree programs in this state;
               (8)  encouraging a medically underserved community
  served by a loan reimbursement or stipend recipient to contribute
  to the cost of the loan reimbursement or stipend when making a
  contribution is feasible; and
               (9)  requiring a medically underserved community
  served by a loan reimbursement or stipend recipient to assist the
  department in contracting with the loan reimbursement or stipend
  recipient who will serve that community.
         (b)  The department [board] by rule may designate areas of
  the state as medically underserved communities.
         (c)  The department [board] shall make reasonable efforts to
  contract with health professionals from a variety of different
  health professions.
         SECTION 37.  Section 487.602, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.602.  RURAL PHYSICIAN RELIEF PROGRAM. Subject to
  available funding, the [The] department shall create a program to
  provide affordable relief services to rural physicians practicing
  in the fields of general family medicine, general internal
  medicine, and general pediatrics to facilitate the ability of those
  physicians to take time away from their practice.
         SECTION 38.  Section 487.652(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to available funding, the [The] community
  telecommunications alliance program shall:
               (1)  assist local communities in the creation and
  development of community telecommunications alliances, including
  alliances established to pursue rural economic development or
  innovative rural school health technology projects, by providing
  advice and assistance in assessing local uses of and local demands
  or needs for local telecommunications and information services of
  private sector providers; and
               (2)  assist community telecommunications alliances in
  applying for grant funding for projects, including:
                     (A)  assisting alliances in securing matching
  private sector funding for projects; and
                     (B)  requiring alliances to develop sustainable
  plans:
                           (i)  that demonstrate how the alliance will
  continue to obtain private sector services once the grant funding
  terminates;
                           (ii)  that do not directly compete with
  local businesses, telecommunications providers, or information
  services providers; and
                           (iii)  that prohibit a network created with
  assistance from the alliance or other public funding from being
  sold to a direct competitor of a private sector provider.
         SECTION 39.  Section 487.701(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall establish the Texas Rural
  Foundation as a nonprofit corporation that complies with Chapter
  22, Business Organizations Code [the Texas Non-Profit Corporation
  Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)],
  except as otherwise provided by this chapter, and qualifies as an
  organization exempt from federal income tax under Section
  501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
         SECTION 40.  Section 487.703(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The Texas Rural Foundation is governed by a board of an
  odd number of at least nine and not more than 15 directors appointed
  by the commissioner [board of the department].
         SECTION 41.  Section 487.705(c), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  If the [executive] director of the department has
  knowledge that a potential ground for removal exists, the
  [executive] director shall notify the presiding officer of the
  board of directors of the Texas Rural Foundation of the potential
  ground.  The presiding officer shall then notify the governor and
  the attorney general that a potential ground for removal
  exists.  If the potential ground for removal involves the presiding
  officer, the [executive] director of the department shall notify
  the next highest ranking officer of the board of directors, who
  shall then notify the governor and the attorney general that a
  potential ground for removal exists.
         SECTION 42.  Section 487.710, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 487.710.  MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. The Texas Rural
  Foundation and the department shall enter into a memorandum of
  understanding that:
               (1)  requires the board of directors and staff of the
  foundation to report to the [executive] director of the department
  and the commissioner [board of the department];
               (2)  allows the department to provide staff functions
  to the foundation;
               (3)  allows the department to expend funds on the
  foundation; and
               (4)  outlines the financial contributions to be made to
  the foundation from funds obtained from grants and other sources.
         SECTION 43.  Section 487.752(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The department [executive committee] by rule shall
  establish:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
               (2)  grant application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
               (5)  procedures for monitoring the use of grants
  awarded under the program and for ensuring compliance with the
  conditions of a grant.
         SECTION 44.  The following provisions of the Government Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Section 487.001(1);
               (2)  Section 487.027;
               (3)  Section 487.030;
               (4)  Section 487.031;
               (5)  Section 487.032;
               (6)  Section 487.053;
               (7)  Section 487.054;
               (8)  Section 487.0541;
               (9)  Section 487.056;
               (10)  Section 487.057;
               (11)  Section 487.059;
               (12)  Section 487.552;
               (13)  Section 487.608; and
               (14)  Section 487.653.
         SECTION 45.  On the effective date of this Act, the following
  are abolished:
               (1)  the interagency work group under Section 487.0541,
  Government Code;
               (2)  the advisory panel under Section 487.552,
  Government Code; and
               (3)  the rural physician relief advisory committee
  under Section 487.608, Government Code.
         SECTION 46.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1493 was passed by the House on April
  3, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1493 was passed by the Senate on May
  9, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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