Lalani Bill’s $200M Clinic Grants Need A 4 Million Neighbor

The text as introduced · 511 words

89R8674 LRM-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 2299

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a community health clinic grant program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

designating Section 64.001 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter

heading to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A. TEACHING HOSPITAL ACCOUNT

SECTION 2. Chapter 64, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter B to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B. COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 64.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Community health clinic" means a

community-driven, nonprofit health clinic located in a medically

underserved area or serving populations that are medically

underserved. The term includes a community health center and a

federally qualified health center, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section

1396d(l)(2)(B).

(2) "Grant program" means the community health clinic

grant program established under this subchapter.

Sec. 64.052. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT

PROGRAM. The executive commissioner by rule shall establish and

the commission shall administer a community health clinic grant

program to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes,

reduce health disparities, and achieve health equity in medically

underserved areas of this state by:

(1) improving the provision of preventative care,

screening, and treatment for chronic health conditions, including

diabetes, hypertension, and obesity; and

(2) strengthening the availability and capacity of

community health clinics to provide affordable, high-quality

health care services to medically underserved individuals.

Sec. 64.053. APPLICATION. A community health clinic may

apply to the commission to receive money under the grant program if

the clinic:

(1) is located in a county with a population of 800,000

or more, adjacent to a county with a population of 4 million or

more; and

(2) either:

(A) operates in a medically underserved area of

the county; or

(B) serves a medically underserved population in

the county.

Sec. 64.054. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) The executive

commissioner by rule shall establish eligibility criteria and a

scoring system for the commission to award grants under the grant

program.

(b) The commission may award grants under the grant program

to eligible applicants.

Sec. 64.055. USE OF GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient may use

money awarded under the grant program only for the purposes

described by Section 64.052. The executive commissioner shall

adopt rules governing the use of money awarded under the grant

program.

Sec. 64.056. FUNDING. (a) The commission shall award

grants as provided by this subchapter using money appropriated to

the commission for that purpose.

(b) Out of money appropriated to the commission that is

available for the purpose, the commission shall allocate $200

million each fiscal biennium to award grants under this subchapter.

Sec. 64.057. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt

rules necessary to implement and administer this subchapter.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall

adopt the rules necessary to implement Subchapter B, Chapter 64,

Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.