By:  Parra                                            H.B. No. 2608
       73R4888 SOS-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to The University of Texas at El Paso.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 69.01, Education Code, is amended by
    1-5  adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
    1-6              (3)  "Border area" means the following
    1-7  counties:  Atascosa, Bee, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron,
    1-8  Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio,
    1-9  Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy,
   1-10  Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Maverick, Medina,
   1-11  Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton,
   1-12  Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 69, Education Code, is
   1-14  amended by adding Sections 69.03, 69.04, and 69.05 to read as
   1-15  follows:
   1-16        Sec. 69.03.  COURSES AND DEGREES.  (a)  Except as provided by
   1-17  Subsection (b) of this section, the board, with the approval of the
   1-18  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, may prescribe courses
   1-19  leading to customary degrees as are offered at leading American
   1-20  educational institutions and may award those degrees.
   1-21        (b)  At a minimum, the board shall offer:
   1-22              (1)  baccalaureate programs in child development,
   1-23  chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, and textile design;
   1-24              (2)  master's programs in nurse midwifery, development
    2-1  education, public health, physical therapy, nurse practitioner
    2-2  studies, nursing administration, library and information science,
    2-3  creative writing, Hispanic literature, linguistics, community
    2-4  health, international business, art, public policy and ethnic
    2-5  studies, and urban planning; and
    2-6              (3)  doctoral programs in materials science,
    2-7  psychology, educational administration, environmental science,
    2-8  history, public policy, business administration, community health,
    2-9  mechanical engineering, linguistics, multicultural education,
   2-10  chemistry, Spanish, nursing, biological sciences, and mathematics.
   2-11        Sec. 69.04.  PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS.  The board shall establish
   2-12  architecture and pharmacy schools at the university at locations
   2-13  selected by the board.
   2-14        Sec. 69.05.  RESEARCH CENTERS.  (a)  The board shall
   2-15  establish as components of the university a Hispanic populations
   2-16  research center, an environmental resource management research
   2-17  center, and a public school partnerships research center at
   2-18  locations selected by the board.
   2-19        (b)  The Hispanic populations research center shall study the
   2-20  demographic effect of Hispanic populations on the border area and
   2-21  on the rest of this state.
   2-22        (c)  The environmental resource management research center
   2-23  shall study the effect of the environment and the impact of humans
   2-24  on the environment in the border area.
   2-25        (d)  The public school partnerships research center shall
   2-26  cooperate with the public school partnerships research center
   2-27  established at The University of Texas at San Antonio and shall
    3-1  work with public schools in the border area to offer precollege
    3-2  programs.
    3-3        SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 69, Education Code, is
    3-4  amended by adding Sections 69.23 and 69.24 to read as follows:
    3-5        Sec. 69.23.  JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS.  The board may offer
    3-6  joint degree programs in the areas of educational administration,
    3-7  public health, physical therapy, or library and information science
    3-8  with another institution under its governance.
    3-9        Sec. 69.24.  JOINT APPOINTMENTS.  (a)  The board may make
   3-10  joint faculty appointments to a position in the university or a
   3-11  component of the university and to a position in another
   3-12  institution under its governance.
   3-13        (b)  The salary of a person receiving a joint appointment
   3-14  shall be apportioned between the university or the component of the
   3-15  university and the other institution on the basis of services
   3-16  rendered.
   3-17        SECTION 4.  Chapter 69, Education Code, is amended by adding
   3-18  Subchapter C to read as follows:
   3-19             SUBCHAPTER C.  EL PASO HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
   3-20        Sec. 69.41.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter, "center" means
   3-21  the El Paso Health Science Center.
   3-22        Sec. 69.42.  COMPONENT.  (a)  The El Paso Health Science
   3-23  Center is a component of The University of Texas at El Paso.
   3-24        (b)  The center is under the management and control of the
   3-25  board.
   3-26        (c)  The board shall select a site in the border area for the
   3-27  center.
    4-1        Sec. 69.43.  COURSES AND DEGREES.  (a)  Except as provided by
    4-2  Subsection (b) of this section, the board, with the approval of the
    4-3  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, may prescribe courses
    4-4  leading to customary degrees as are offered at other health science
    4-5  centers or medical schools in this state.
    4-6        (b)  At a minimum, the board shall offer:
    4-7              (1)  a program leading to a doctoral degree in
    4-8  medicine; and
    4-9              (2)  a doctoral program in health science.
   4-10        Sec. 69.44.  SERVICES OF CENTER.  (a)  The center shall:
   4-11              (1)  conduct research relating to diseases in the
   4-12  border area;
   4-13              (2)  develop diagnostic and treatment procedures for
   4-14  diseases in the border area;
   4-15              (3)  provide training programs for medical students and
   4-16  resident physicians; and
   4-17              (4)  provide for the diagnosis and treatment of
   4-18  patients in the border area, including indigent patients.
   4-19        (b)  The board may contract with the governing board of
   4-20  another health science center or of a general academic teaching
   4-21  institution, as defined by Section 61.003 of this code, to provide
   4-22  the services of the center.
   4-23        SECTION 5.  Subchapter C, Chapter 65, Education Code, is
   4-24  amended by adding Sections 65.47 and 65.48 to read as follows:
   4-25        Sec. 65.47.  ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL
   4-26  PASO.  To the extent that funds are available for this purpose, the
   4-27  board shall provide to The University of Texas at El Paso funding
    5-1  that is equal to or greater than the funding provided to The
    5-2  University of Texas at Austin for:
    5-3              (1)  student support services;
    5-4              (2)  faculty salaries;
    5-5              (3)  libraries;
    5-6              (4)  student scholarships;
    5-7              (5)  student and faculty research;
    5-8              (6)  instructional and laboratory equipment; and
    5-9              (7)  community outreach programs.
   5-10        Sec. 65.48.  ENHANCEMENTS FOR EL PASO HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.
   5-11  To the extent that funds are available for this purpose, the board
   5-12  shall provide to the El Paso Health Science Center funding that is
   5-13  equal to or greater than the funding provided to The University of
   5-14  Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas for:
   5-15              (1)  student support services;
   5-16              (2)  faculty salaries;
   5-17              (3)  libraries;
   5-18              (4)  student scholarships;
   5-19              (5)  student and faculty research;
   5-20              (6)  instructional and laboratory equipment; and
   5-21              (7)  community outreach programs.
   5-22        SECTION 6.  Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
   5-23  amended by adding Section 55.1713 to read as follows:
   5-24        Sec. 55.1713.  THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO.  (a)  The
   5-25  board of regents of The University of Texas System may acquire,
   5-26  purchase, construct, improve, enlarge, and equip property,
   5-27  buildings, structures, facilities, and roads for The University of
    6-1  Texas at El Paso, including its architecture and pharmacy schools,
    6-2  the Hispanic populations research center, the environmental
    6-3  resource management research center, the public school partnerships
    6-4  research center, and the El Paso Health Science Center.
    6-5        (b)  The board may finance those items listed under
    6-6  Subsection (a) of this section through the issuance of bonds under
    6-7  this subchapter.  The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment
    6-8  of those bonds all or any part of the aggregate amount of student
    6-9  tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed on
   6-10  students enrolled at The University of Texas at El Paso or the El
   6-11  Paso Health Science Center.  The amount of a pledge made under this
   6-12  subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
   6-13  which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
   6-14  are outstanding.
   6-15        (c)  Bonds issued under this section may not be issued in an
   6-16  aggregate principal amount exceeding $60 million.
   6-17        SECTION 7.  Sections 61.003(5) and (6), Education Code, are
   6-18  amended to read as follows:
   6-19              (5)  "Medical and dental unit" means The University of
   6-20  Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; The University of Texas
   6-21  Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; The University of Texas
   6-22  Medical School at San Antonio; The University of Texas Dental
   6-23  Branch at Houston; The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
   6-24  Center; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical
   6-25  Sciences at Houston; The University of Texas Dental School at San
   6-26  Antonio; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston; the
   6-27  nursing institutions of The University of Texas System; the El Paso
    7-1  Health Science Center; the pharmacy school at The University of
    7-2  Texas at El Paso; and The University of Texas School of Public
    7-3  Health at Houston; and such other medical or dental schools as may
    7-4  be established by statute or as provided in this chapter.
    7-5              (6)  "Other agency of higher education" means The
    7-6  University of Texas System, System Administration; Texas Western
    7-7  University Museum; Texas A&M University System, Administrative and
    7-8  General Offices; Texas Agricultural Experiment Station; Texas
    7-9  Agricultural Extension Service; Rodent and Predatory Animal Control
   7-10  Service (a part of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service); Texas
   7-11  Engineering Experiment Station (including the Texas Transportation
   7-12  Institute); Texas Engineering Extension Service; Texas Forest
   7-13  Service; Texas Tech University Museum; Texas State University
   7-14  System, System Administration; Sam Houston Memorial Museum;
   7-15  Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum; Cotton Research Committee of
   7-16  Texas; Water Resources Institute of Texas; Texas Veterinary Medical
   7-17  Diagnostic Laboratory; the regional innovation centers; the
   7-18  Hispanic populations research center, the environmental resource
   7-19  management research center, and the public school partnerships
   7-20  research center at The University of Texas at El Paso; and any
   7-21  other unit, division, institution, or agency which shall be so
   7-22  designated by statute or which may be established to operate as a
   7-23  component part of any public senior college or university, or which
   7-24  may be so classified as provided in this chapter.
   7-25        SECTION 8.  Sections 61.055 and 61.056, Education Code, are
   7-26  amended to read as follows:
   7-27        Sec. 61.055.  Initiation of New Departments, Schools, and
    8-1  Programs.  Except as otherwise provided by law, a <No> new
    8-2  department, school, or degree or certificate program approved by
    8-3  the board or its predecessor, the Texas Commission on Higher
    8-4  Education, may not be initiated by any institution of higher
    8-5  education until the board has made a written finding that the
    8-6  department, school, or degree or certificate program is adequately
    8-7  financed by legislative appropriation, by funds allocated by the
    8-8  board, or by funds from other sources.
    8-9        Sec. 61.056.  Review of Legislation Establishing Additional
   8-10  Institutions.  Except as otherwise provided by law, a <Any>
   8-11  proposed statute which would establish an additional institution of
   8-12  higher education, except a public junior college, shall be
   8-13  submitted, either prior to introduction or by the standing
   8-14  committee considering the proposed statute, to the board for its
   8-15  opinion as to the state's need for the institution.  The board
   8-16  shall report its findings to the governor and the legislature.  A
   8-17  recommendation that an additional institution is needed shall
   8-18  require the favorable vote of at least two-thirds of the members of
   8-19  the board.  A recommendation of the board shall not be considered a
   8-20  condition precedent to the introduction or passage of any proposed
   8-21  statute.
   8-22        SECTION 9.  Section 65.02(a), Education Code, is amended to
   8-23  read as follows:
   8-24        (a)  The University of Texas System is composed of the
   8-25  following institutions and entities:
   8-26              (1)  The University of Texas at Arlington, including
   8-27                    (A)  The University of Texas Institute of Urban
    9-1  Studies at Arlington; and
    9-2                    (B)  The University of Texas School of Nursing at
    9-3  Arlington;
    9-4              (2)  The University of Texas at Austin, including
    9-5                    (A)  The University of Texas Marine Science
    9-6  Institute;
    9-7                    (B)  The University of Texas McDonald Observatory
    9-8  at Mount Locke; and
    9-9                    (C)  The University of Texas School of Nursing at
   9-10  Austin;
   9-11              (3)  The University of Texas at Dallas;
   9-12              (4)  The University of Texas at El Paso, including The
   9-13  University of Texas School of Nursing at El Paso, the El Paso
   9-14  Health Science Center, the architecture and pharmacy schools, the
   9-15  Hispanic populations, environmental resource management, and public
   9-16  school partnerships research centers, and the regional innovation
   9-17  center;
   9-18              (5)  The University of Texas of the Permian Basin;
   9-19              (6)  The University of Texas at San Antonio, including
   9-20  the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio;
   9-21              (7)  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
   9-22  Center at Dallas, including
   9-23                    (A)  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
   9-24  School at Dallas;
   9-25                    (B)  The University of Texas Southwestern
   9-26  Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Dallas; and
   9-27                    (C)  The University of Texas Southwestern Allied
   10-1  Health Sciences School at Dallas;
   10-2              (8)  The University of Texas Medical Branch at
   10-3  Galveston, including
   10-4                    (A)  The University of Texas Medical School at
   10-5  Galveston;
   10-6                    (B)  The University of Texas Graduate School of
   10-7  Biomedical Sciences at Galveston;
   10-8                    (C)  The University of Texas School of Allied
   10-9  Health Sciences at Galveston;
  10-10                    (D)  The University of Texas Marine Biomedical
  10-11  Institute at Galveston;
  10-12                    (E)  The University of Texas Hospitals at
  10-13  Galveston; and
  10-14                    (F)  The University of Texas School of Nursing at
  10-15  Galveston;
  10-16              (9)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
  10-17  Houston, including
  10-18                    (A)  The University of Texas Medical School at
  10-19  Houston;
  10-20                    (B)  The University of Texas Dental Branch at
  10-21  Houston;
  10-22                    (C)  The University of Texas Graduate School of
  10-23  Biomedical Sciences at Houston;
  10-24                    (D)  The University of Texas School of Allied
  10-25  Health Sciences at Houston;
  10-26                    (E)  The University of Texas School of Public
  10-27  Health at Houston;
   11-1                    (F)  The University of Texas Speech and Hearing
   11-2  Institute at Houston; and
   11-3                    (G)  The University of Texas School of Nursing at
   11-4  Houston;
   11-5              (10)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
   11-6  San Antonio, including
   11-7                    (A)  The University of Texas Medical School at
   11-8  San Antonio;
   11-9                    (B)  The University of Texas Dental School at San
  11-10  Antonio;
  11-11                    (C)  The University of Texas Graduate School of
  11-12  Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio;
  11-13                    (D)  The University of Texas School of Allied
  11-14  Health Sciences at San Antonio; and
  11-15                    (E)  The University of Texas School of Nursing at
  11-16  San Antonio;
  11-17              (11)  The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
  11-18  Center, including
  11-19                    (A)  The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
  11-20  Hospital;
  11-21                    (B)  The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Tumor
  11-22  Institute; and
  11-23                    (C)  The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
  11-24  Science Park.
  11-25        SECTION 10.  (a)  Not later than the beginning of the fall
  11-26  semester in 1995, the board of regents of The University of Texas
  11-27  System shall begin offering the courses and degrees required by
   12-1  Section 69.03, Education Code, as added by this Act.
   12-2        (b)  Not later than September 1, 1993, the board of regents
   12-3  of The University of Texas System shall take the necessary actions
   12-4  to establish the professional schools and research centers under
   12-5  Sections 69.04 and 69.05, Education Code, as added by this Act.
   12-6        (c)  Not later than the beginning of the fall semester in
   12-7  1995, the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall
   12-8  begin admitting students to the professional schools established
   12-9  under Section 69.04, Education Code, as added by this Act.
  12-10        (d)  Not later than January 1, 1995, the research centers
  12-11  established under Section 69.05, Education Code, as added by this
  12-12  Act, shall begin conducting research.
  12-13        (e)  Not later than September 1, 1993, the board of regents
  12-14  of The University of Texas System shall take the necessary actions
  12-15  to establish the El Paso Health Science Center under Subchapter C,
  12-16  Chapter 69, Education Code, as added by this Act.
  12-17        (f)  Not later than the beginning of the fall semester in
  12-18  1997, the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall
  12-19  begin admitting students to the El Paso Health Science Center
  12-20  established under Subchapter C, Chapter 69, Education Code, as
  12-21  added by this Act.
  12-22        (g)  To the extent that funds are available for this purpose,
  12-23  the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall
  12-24  provide the funding required by Sections 65.47 and 65.48, Education
  12-25  Code, as added by this Act, beginning the fiscal year beginning
  12-26  September 1, 1993.
  12-27        SECTION 11.  The importance of this legislation and the
   13-1  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   13-2  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   13-3  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   13-4  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   13-5  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   13-6  passage, and it is so enacted.