85R4478 GCB-D     By: Wu H.B. No. 709       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a study conducted by Texas A&M University on services   for children and families available in rural counties for children   in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and   Protective Services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services   Commission.                (2)  "Department" means the Department of Family and   Protective Services.                (3)  "Rural county" means a county with a population of   less than 50,000.                (4)  "Services for children and families" includes   mental health services, medical services, specialized medical   services, and child protective services.          (b)  The board of regents of The Texas A&M University System   shall designate a department or entity at Texas A&M University to   conduct a study on services for children and families available to   be provided in rural counties to children in the managing   conservatorship of the department and to the parents of those   children. The study must:                (1)  determine what types of services for children and   families are available to the children and parents in rural   counties;                (2)  determine the number of clinics, physicians, and   other service providers that are available to provide services for   children and families to children and parents in rural counties;                (3)  determine the number of clinics, offices of   physicians, and other providers of services for children and   families in rural counties that have closed in the preceding five   years;                (4)  propose actions the commission and department can   take to address any shortage in the provision of services for   children and families to children and parents in rural counties,   including:                      (A)  the provision of services through   telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural   counties;                      (B)  partnerships between the commission or   department and institutions of higher education to provide services   in rural counties; and                      (C)  incentives offered by the commission or   department to service providers for providing services in rural   counties; and                (5)  make recommendations to the legislature for   increasing the quality and quantity of services provided to the   children and parents in rural counties.          (c)  The department or entity at Texas A&M University   designated by the board of regents to conduct the study shall   provide the study results and recommendations to the governor,   lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and   each member of the legislature not later than December 1, 2018.          (d)  This section expires September 1, 2019.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.