88R7126 CXP-D     By: Guerra H.B. No. 2171       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Texas Center for Rural Health   Education at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 79, Education Code, is amended by adding   Section 79.11 to read as follows:          Sec. 79.11.  TEXAS CENTER FOR RURAL HEALTH EDUCATION. (a)     In this section, "center" means the Texas Center for Rural Health   Education.          (b)  The board shall establish the Texas Center for Rural   Health Education at the university.          (c)  The organization, control, and management of the center   are vested in the board.          (d)  The center shall:                (1)  perform an initial assessment of rural health   education in this state;                (2)  develop appropriate performance metrics to   measure improvement in rural health education and health care   outcomes;                (3)  conduct research regarding rural health   education, including research to identify:                      (A)  best practices in rural health education; and                      (B)  underserved rural areas;                (4)  develop recommendations regarding the allocation   of funding for tuition and loan repayment programs available to   rural health care professionals;                (5)  develop partnerships between high schools,   postsecondary institutions of higher education, and local medical   systems to recruit, train, and retain health care professionals to   serve in underserved rural areas;                (6)  develop a plan to improve rural health education   and health care outcomes; and                (7)  develop and maintain an Internet website that   provides information regarding rural health education research and   resources.          (e)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,   the center shall submit to the legislature a report on rural health   education and health care outcomes in this state.  The report must   include a summary of the center's activities under Subsection (d)   and any recommendations for legislative or other action.          (f)  The university shall encourage public or private   entities to participate in or support the operation of the center   and may enter into an agreement with any public or private entity   for that purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide   information, services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange   for the entity's participation or support.          (g)  The board may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and   grants from any public or private source for the purposes of the   center.          (h)  The board may employ personnel for the center as   necessary.          (i)  The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement this   section.          SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas Center   for Rural Health Education shall submit to the legislature the   first biennial report required under Section 79.11, Education Code,   as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.