Sec. 61.06691. STUDY ON SHORTAGES IN CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONS. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the board shall conduct a study in collaboration with the Texas Health Professions Resource Center, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, and the Texas Demographic Center to identify statewide and regional shortages in health professions, with an emphasis on shortages in doctoral-level training in those health professions. Using existing information to the extent possible, the board shall develop an inventory of existing health science education programs at institutions of higher education and private or independent institutions of higher education and note the enrollment capacity for each of those programs. The study must include an analysis of shortages in the following health professions for which doctoral-level training is offered:

(1) medicine, including a doctor of medicine degree (M.D.) and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (D.O.);

(2) dentistry, including a doctor of dental surgery degree (D.D.S.) and a doctor of dental medicine degree (D.M.D.);

(3) nursing, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of nursing practice degree;

(4) physical therapy, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of physical therapy degree;

(5) occupational therapy, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of occupational therapy degree;

(6) audiology, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of audiology degree;

(7) psychology, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of psychology degree;

(8) pharmacy, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of pharmacy degree;

(9) public health, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of public health degree; and

(10) speech-language pathology, including a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of speech-language pathology degree.

(b) The board shall make recommendations regarding the establishment of new programs and expansion of existing programs to meet the increased need for health professionals in the state, including in particular the increased need for health professionals with doctoral-level training who serve rural communities in this state.

(c) Not later than December 1, 2023, the board shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education the results of its study under this section and recommendations for legislative or other action.

(d) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source to conduct the study, prepare the report, and develop recommendations as required under this section.

(e) This section expires January 1, 2024.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 353 (H.B. 80), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

For expiration of this section, see Subsection (c).