H.B. No. 400
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to innovation grant programs to support residency training
  programs in psychiatric specialty fields and recruitment,
  training, and retention programs in behavioral health fields.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 58A, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 58A.071.  PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT
  PROGRAM. Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an
  innovation grant program under which the board awards incentive
  payments to medical schools that administer innovative residency
  training programs designed to increase the number of physicians in
  this state who specialize in pediatric or adult psychiatric care.
         Sec. 58A.072.  FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
  DONATIONS.  In addition to other money appropriated by the
  legislature, for the purpose of promoting pediatric or adult
  psychiatric care under the program established under this
  subchapter the board may:
               (1)  seek and apply for any available federal funds;
  and
               (2)  solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
  from any other source, public or private, as necessary to ensure
  effective implementation of the program.
         Sec. 58A.073.  RULES.  In consultation with each medical
  school in this state, the board shall adopt rules for the
  administration of the program established under this
  subchapter.  The rules must include:
               (1)  administrative provisions relating to the
  awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:
                     (A)  eligibility criteria for medical schools,
  including a requirement that the medical school demonstrate
  regional and state workforce need;
                     (B)  grant application procedures;
                     (C)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
                     (D)  procedures for evaluating grant
  applications; and
                     (E)  procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
  and
               (2)  methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants
  that:
                     (A)  using data reasonably available to the board,
  consider relevant information regarding the career paths of medical
  school graduates during the four-year period following their
  graduation; and
                     (B)  evaluate whether and for how long those
  graduates practice in a psychiatric specialty field in this state.
         Sec. 58A.074.  AWARD OF GRANTS. (a)  In awarding grants
  under the program, the board shall award:
               (1)  60 percent of the amount available in each program
  year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
  train physicians to specialize in pediatric psychiatric care; and
               (2)  40 percent of the amount available in each program
  year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
  train physicians to specialize in adult psychiatric care.
         (b)  Within each category of grants prescribed by Subsection
  (a), the board shall give priority to grants to medical schools with
  innovative residency programs based in rural or underserved areas.
         Sec. 58A.075.  GRANT AMOUNT.  The amount of a grant awarded
  under this subchapter may not exceed $1 million.
         Sec. 58A.076.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  A medical school
  that receives a grant awarded under this subchapter shall submit to
  the board an annual report on the amounts and purposes for which
  grant funds were spent during the year covered by the report.
         Sec. 58A.077.  ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.  A reasonable amount,
  not to exceed five percent, of any general revenue appropriated for
  purposes of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the
  costs of administering this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter RR to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER RR. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 61.9991.  BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM.
  Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an innovation
  grant program under which the board awards incentive payments to
  institutions of higher education that administer innovative
  recruitment, training, and retention programs designed to increase
  the number of mental health professionals, as defined by Section
  61.601, or professionals in related fields, as determined by the
  board, including by providing a salary increase or stipend to a
  faculty member who provides instruction to additional students in a
  degree or certificate program that graduates those professionals.
         Sec. 61.9992.  FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
  DONATIONS. In addition to other money appropriated by the
  legislature, for the purpose of increasing the behavioral health
  workforce in this state under the program established under this
  subchapter the board may:
               (1)  seek and apply for any available federal funds;
  and
               (2)  solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
  from any other source, public or private, as necessary to ensure
  effective implementation of the program.
         Sec. 61.9993.  RULES. (a)  The board shall adopt rules for
  the administration of the program established under this
  subchapter. In adopting the rules, the board shall solicit from the
  Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council information necessary to
  identify programs anticipated to produce the best outcomes and
  serve the greatest need.
         (b)  The rules must include:
               (1)  administrative provisions relating to the
  awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:
                     (A)  eligibility criteria for institutions of
  higher education, including a requirement that the institution
  demonstrate regional and state workforce need;
                     (B)  grant application procedures;
                     (C)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
                     (D)  procedures for evaluating grant
  applications; and
                     (E)  procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
  and
               (2)  methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants
  that:
                     (A)  using data reasonably available to the board,
  consider relevant information regarding the career paths of
  professionals described by Section 61.9991 during the four-year
  period following their graduation; and
                     (B)  evaluate whether and for how long those
  professionals practice in a field described by Section 61.9991 in
  this state.
         Sec. 61.9994.  AWARD OF GRANTS. In awarding grants under the
  program, the board shall give priority to applicants that propose
  to:
               (1)  enhance or leverage existing degree programs that
  graduate professionals described by Section 61.9991;
               (2)  establish or maintain a program that serves a
  rural or underserved area;
               (3)  partner with:
                     (A)  another institution of higher education to
  develop a joint program; or
                     (B)  a public school to implement early
  recruitment in high school; 
               (4)  establish or maintain a program that incentivizes
  professionals described by Section 61.9991 to serve in their field
  or a related field of study for at least three consecutive years
  following graduation in an inpatient or outpatient behavioral
  health facility or program that receives state funding;
               (5)  establish or maintain a degree or certificate
  program to educate professionals in specialties that face
  significant workforce shortages, including those described by
  Section 61.601; or 
               (6)  establish or maintain psychiatric fellowship
  programs that serve correctional facilities or inpatient
  psychiatric facilities.
         Sec. 61.9995.  GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of a grant awarded
  under this subchapter may not exceed $1 million.
         Sec. 61.9996.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  An institution of
  higher education that receives a grant awarded under this
  subchapter shall submit to the board an annual report on the amounts
  and purposes for which grant funds were spent during the year
  covered by the report.
         Sec. 61.9997.  ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. A reasonable amount,
  not to exceed five percent, of any general revenue appropriated for
  purposes of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the
  costs of administering this subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the
  innovation grant programs established under Subchapter D, Chapter
  58A, Education Code, and Subchapter RR, Chapter 61, Education Code,
  as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board shall establish the innovation grant
  programs required by Subchapter D, Chapter 58A, Education Code, and
  Subchapter RR, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, and
  shall begin to award grants under each program as soon as
  practicable after the program is established.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 400 was passed by the House on May 1,
  2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 124, Nays 18, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 400 was passed by the Senate on May
  23, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor