SB1998

The coordinating board may contract with one or more organizations. A funded operator must either qualify for federal income-tax exemption under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 or be operated by a state-accredited medical school. These are alternatives: the law does not require both, and it does not limit the tax-exemption route to Section 501(c)(3) in its text. Final law, new Education Code 58.011(b)–(c).

Eligible students must be enrolled in the Texas medical schools covered by the statute and indicate interest in a pediatric-subspecialty career. “Medical school” uses Education Code 61.501(1)’s named-school definition and expressly adds the University of the Incarnate Word’s osteopathic school; it is not an unrestricted reference to any institution calling itself a medical school. A qualifying pediatric subspecialty is defined through certification offered by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic Association. The program itself does not award that certification. Final law; Incorporated medical-school definition.

The act specifies no individual stipend, placement duration, required participant count or post-graduation service commitment. All five operative bill versions are identical, and the official amendment index lists no amendments. Certified passage votes—Senate 30–1 and House 145–0, with two present but not voting—met the immediate-effect threshold; September 1 was only the fallback date. Introduced; Senate committee; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Interested students and eligible program operators could gain opportunities for pediatric-specialty exposure. The sponsor’s stated aim is to encourage more students to choose these careers, but the law does not guarantee more specialists, shorter waits or improved access in a particular community. No operating contract, enrollment total or completed placement is verified here. Final law; House analysis and stated purpose.

The April 9 fiscal note anticipates no significant state or local-government fiscal implication, assuming associated state costs can be absorbed within existing resources. The act does not itself appropriate money or establish a per-student payment. That forecast does not prove a particular program is funded or that operators and students incur no costs. Fiscal note; Final law.