The Commissioner shall give priority to applicants for funding based on requirements and award criteria provided in the RFA, including the extent to which an applicant proposes to:

1. (1) Utilize existing behavioral health degree programs and thereby reduce the time and expenses necessary for seeking degree approval;
2. (2) Establish or grow a program that serves a rural or medically underserved area;

3. (3) Partner with:

   1. (A) Another institution of higher education to develop a joint program; or
   2. (B) A public Texas Independent School District or Texas public charter school for the purpose of creating and implementing an evidence-informed early recruitment program to behavioral health degree programs for high school students;
4. (4) Establish or grow a program that incentivizes professionals described by Texas Education Code, §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 community behavioral health programs that receives any state funding in whole or in part;
5. (5) Establish or grow a degree or certificate program to educate behavioral health professionals in specialties that the applicant demonstrates faces significant regional or statewide workforce shortages; or
6. (6) Establish or grow psychiatric fellowship programs that serve correctional facilities or inpatient psychiatric facilities.

Source Note:The provisions of this §10.415 adopted to be effective May 13, 2026, 51 TexReg 3103.