HB 147 — A community health clinic grant program

90R3834 LRM-D By: Lalani H.B. No. 147 relating to a community health clinic grant program.

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) "Charitable clinic" means a private, nonprofit, community-based organization that provides health care services to low-income, underinsured, or uninsured individuals at nominal or no cost through the use of volunteer health care professionals and health care professional partnerships. (2) "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) a community health center; (B) a federally qualified health center, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B); (C) a rural health clinic; and (D) a charitable clinic. (3) "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) 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. (b) An application submitted under this section must identify the specific purpose for which the grant is requested, such as preventative care, screening, or treatment for diabetes, hypertension, or obesity. Sec. 64.054. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) The executive commissioner, by rule, shall establish eligibility criteria for the commission to award grants under the grant program. (b) The commission may award a grant under the grant program to an eligible applicant for the specific purpose identified in the application under Section 64.053(b). (c) The amount of a grant awarded under this section for a specific purpose identified in the application under Section 64.053(b) may not exceed $5 million. (d) A community health clinic may apply for and be awarded multiple grants, provided each grant is awarded for a specific purpose identified in the application. Sec. 64.055. USE OF GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient may use money awarded under the grant program only for the specific purpose identified in the application under Section 64.053(b). The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing the use of money awarded under the grant program. Sec. 64.056. FUNDING. The commission shall award grants as provided by this subchapter using money appropriated to the commission for that purpose. Out of the appropriated money, the commission shall allocate $200 million each fiscal biennium for grant awards 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, 2028, 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, 2027.