HB1881 - Relating to a study regarding establishing a public medical school as a professional school of Texas Southern University.

  89R4603 CMO-F     By: Simmons H.B. No. 1881       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a study regarding establishing a public medical school   as a professional school of Texas Southern University.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  FEASIBILITY STUDY. (a) The president of Texas   Southern University shall designate a department or entity at the   university to conduct a study to examine the need for and   feasibility of establishing a school of medicine as a professional   school of Texas Southern University. The department or entity may   seek the assistance of outside experts or consultants, as   necessary.          (b)  The study must:                (1)  assess the need for establishing an institution   described by Subsection (a) of this section;                (2)  include a financial plan for establishing an   institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including   the cost associated with establishing the institution;                (3)  examine the feasibility of establishing an   institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including   the projected timeline for accreditation of the institution; and                (4)  assess how Texas Southern University, when   compared to other public universities in this state, is better   suited to develop programs to address the following issues as they   appear in urban areas of this state:                      (A)  gaps in health care affecting urban   populations;                      (B)  ease of access to health care in different   locations of an urban area;                      (C)  disparities in the health of various   populations in an urban area;                      (D)  maternal mortality; and                      (E)  any other medical issue affecting the   provision of health care in urban areas of this state.          SECTION 2.  REPORT. (a) The department or entity at Texas   Southern University designated to conduct the study under Section 1   of this Act shall prepare a written report summarizing the results   of the study. The report must also:                (1)  identify the challenges related to establishing a   school of medicine as a professional school of Texas Southern   University;                (2)  include recommendations for legislative or other   action; and                (3)  include any other matter the department or entity   considers appropriate.          (b)  Not later than September 1, 2026, the department or   entity described by Subsection (a) of this section shall submit the   report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.          SECTION 3.  FUNDING. The department or entity at Texas   Southern University designated to conduct the study under Section 1   of this Act may use money appropriated by the legislature or   otherwise available for the purpose to pay for any costs associated   with conducting the study and with preparing the report required by   Section 2 of this Act.          SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2026.          SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September   1, 2025.