Simmons Bill Orders A Texas Southern Med School Study

The text as introduced · 444 words

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.