H.C.R. No. 102 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, The Texas population is growing rapidly, and the number of health care providers is not keeping pace; and WHEREAS, Almost 70 percent of Texas counties were wholly or partially designated as primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas in 2015; and WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature and governor approved $53 million for graduate medical education funding in the 84th Legislative Session to help address this shortage; and WHEREAS, Before that investment, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board projected that, by 2016, more than 100 Texas medical school graduates would not have an opportunity to remain in state for their residency training due to a lack of first-year residency positions; and WHEREAS, In 2015, Texas medical schools awarded 1,692 doctor of medicine and doctor of osteopathic medicine degrees, and the state opened two new medical schools in 2016, and an additional four medical schools may be created in the near future; and WHEREAS, This new growth in the number of medical school graduates will all but nullify or outstrip the legislature's recent efforts to expand graduate medical education and further hinder Texas' efforts to achieve the goal of 1.1 residency positions for each medical school graduate; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby express its support for prioritizing a substantial increase in funding for graduate medical education before it considers authorizing the creation and support of additional medical schools in our state; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature charge the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to work with institutions of higher education and the medical community to achieve the 1.1 to 1 goal for graduate medical education; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to all public and private institutions of higher education in the state. Lozano ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 102 was adopted by the House on May 4, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 12, 3 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 102 was adopted by the Senate on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor