By Rosson S.B. No. 546
74R2892 SMH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to degree programs, research centers, and schools at The
1-3 University of Texas at El Paso.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 55.1719 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 55.1719. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO. (a) The
1-8 board of regents of The University of Texas System may acquire,
1-9 purchase, construct, improve, enlarge, and equip property,
1-10 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
1-11 for The University of Texas at El Paso, including its architecture
1-12 and pharmacy schools, the Hispanic populations research center, the
1-13 environmental resource management research center, the public
1-14 school partnerships research center, the El Paso Health Science
1-15 Center, and the regional innovation center.
1-16 (b) The board may finance the items listed under Subsection
1-17 (a) through the issuance of bonds under this subchapter. The board
1-18 may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those bonds all or part of
1-19 the aggregate amount of student tuition charges required or
1-20 authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at The
1-21 University of Texas at El Paso. The amount of a pledge made under
1-22 this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
1-23 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
1-24 are outstanding.
2-1 SECTION 2. Sections 61.003(5) and (6), Education Code, are
2-2 amended to read as follows:
2-3 (5) "Medical and dental unit" means The University of
2-4 Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; The University of Texas
2-5 Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; The University of Texas
2-6 Medical School at San Antonio; The University of Texas Dental
2-7 Branch at Houston; The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
2-8 Center; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical
2-9 Sciences at Houston; The University of Texas Dental School at San
2-10 Antonio; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston; the
2-11 nursing institutions of The University of Texas System; <and> The
2-12 University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston; the
2-13 pharmacy school at The University of Texas at El Paso; and such
2-14 other medical or dental schools as may be established by statute or
2-15 as provided in this chapter.
2-16 (6) "Other agency of higher education" means The
2-17 University of Texas System, System Administration; Texas Western
2-18 University Museum; Texas A & M University System, Administrative
2-19 and General Offices; Texas Agricultural Experiment Station; Texas
2-20 Agricultural Extension Service; Rodent and Predatory Animal Control
2-21 Service (a part of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service); Texas
2-22 Engineering Experiment Station (including the Texas Transportation
2-23 Institute); Texas Engineering Extension Service; Texas Forest
2-24 Service; Texas Tech University Museum; Texas State University
2-25 System, System Administration; Sam Houston Memorial Museum;
2-26 Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum; Cotton Research Committee of
2-27 Texas; Water Resources Institute of Texas; Texas Veterinary Medical
3-1 Diagnostic Laboratory; the regional innovation centers; the
3-2 Hispanic populations research center, the environmental resource
3-3 management research center, and the public school partnerships
3-4 research center at The University of Texas at El Paso; and any
3-5 other unit, division, institution, or agency which shall be so
3-6 designated by statute or which may be established to operate as a
3-7 component part of any public senior college or university, or which
3-8 may be so classified as provided in this chapter.
3-9 SECTION 3. Section 65.02(a), Education Code, is amended to
3-10 read as follows:
3-11 (a) The University of Texas System is composed of the
3-12 following institutions and entities:
3-13 (1) The University of Texas at Arlington, including
3-14 (A) The University of Texas Institute of Urban
3-15 Studies at Arlington; and
3-16 (B) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
3-17 Arlington;
3-18 (2) The University of Texas at Austin, including
3-19 (A) The University of Texas Marine Science
3-20 Institute;
3-21 (B) The University of Texas McDonald Observatory
3-22 at Mount Locke; and
3-23 (C) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
3-24 Austin;
3-25 (3) The University of Texas at Dallas;
3-26 (4) The University of Texas at El Paso, including The
3-27 University of Texas School of Nursing at El Paso, the architecture
4-1 and pharmacy schools, the Hispanic populations research center, the
4-2 environmental resource management research center, the public
4-3 school partnerships research center, the El Paso Health Science
4-4 Center, and the regional innovation center;
4-5 (5) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin;
4-6 (6) The University of Texas at San Antonio, including
4-7 the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio;
4-8 (7) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
4-9 Center at Dallas, including
4-10 (A) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
4-11 School at Dallas;
4-12 (B) The University of Texas Southwestern
4-13 Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Dallas; and
4-14 (C) The University of Texas Southwestern Allied
4-15 Health Sciences School at Dallas;
4-16 (8) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
4-17 Galveston, including
4-18 (A) The University of Texas Medical School at
4-19 Galveston;
4-20 (B) The University of Texas Graduate School of
4-21 Biomedical Sciences at Galveston;
4-22 (C) The University of Texas School of Allied
4-23 Health Sciences at Galveston;
4-24 (D) The University of Texas Marine Biomedical
4-25 Institute at Galveston;
4-26 (E) The University of Texas Hospitals at
4-27 Galveston; and
5-1 (F) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
5-2 Galveston;
5-3 (9) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
5-4 Houston, including
5-5 (A) The University of Texas Medical School at
5-6 Houston;
5-7 (B) The University of Texas Dental Branch at
5-8 Houston;
5-9 (C) The University of Texas Graduate School of
5-10 Biomedical Sciences at Houston;
5-11 (D) The University of Texas School of Allied
5-12 Health Sciences at Houston;
5-13 (E) The University of Texas School of Public
5-14 Health at Houston;
5-15 (F) The University of Texas Speech and Hearing
5-16 Institute at Houston; and
5-17 (G) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
5-18 Houston;
5-19 (10) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
5-20 San Antonio, including
5-21 (A) The University of Texas Medical School at
5-22 San Antonio;
5-23 (B) The University of Texas Dental School at San
5-24 Antonio;
5-25 (C) The University of Texas Graduate School of
5-26 Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio;
5-27 (D) The University of Texas School of Allied
6-1 Health Sciences at San Antonio; and
6-2 (E) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
6-3 San Antonio;
6-4 (11) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
6-5 Center, including
6-6 (A) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
6-7 Hospital;
6-8 (B) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Tumor
6-9 Institute; and
6-10 (C) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
6-11 Science Park.
6-12 SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 65, Education Code, is
6-13 amended by adding Sections 65.47 and 65.48 to read as follows:
6-14 Sec. 65.47. ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL
6-15 PASO. To the extent that money is available for this purpose, the
6-16 board shall provide to The University of Texas at El Paso funding
6-17 that is equal to or greater than the funding provided to The
6-18 University of Texas at Austin for:
6-19 (1) student support services;
6-20 (2) faculty salaries;
6-21 (3) libraries;
6-22 (4) student scholarships;
6-23 (5) student and faculty research;
6-24 (6) instructional and laboratory equipment; and
6-25 (7) community outreach programs.
6-26 Sec. 65.48. ENHANCEMENTS FOR EL PASO HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.
6-27 To the extent that money is available for this purpose, the board
7-1 shall provide to the El Paso Health Science Center funding that is
7-2 equal to or greater than the funding provided to The University of
7-3 Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas for:
7-4 (1) student support services;
7-5 (2) faculty salaries;
7-6 (3) libraries;
7-7 (4) student scholarships;
7-8 (5) student and faculty research;
7-9 (6) instructional and laboratory equipment; and
7-10 (7) community outreach programs.
7-11 SECTION 5. Section 69.01, Education Code, is amended by
7-12 adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
7-13 (3) "Border area" means Atascosa, Bee, Bexar,
7-14 Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval,
7-15 Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg,
7-16 Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, LaSalle, Live Oak,
7-17 McMullen, Maverick, Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, San
7-18 Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy,
7-19 Zapata, and Zavala counties.
7-20 SECTION 6. Subchapter B, Chapter 69, Education Code, is
7-21 amended by adding Sections 69.23-69.27 to read as follows:
7-22 Sec. 69.23. COURSES AND DEGREES. (a) Except as provided by
7-23 Subsection (b), the board shall prescribe courses at the university
7-24 leading to customary degrees as are offered at leading American
7-25 educational institutions and shall award those degrees.
7-26 (b) At a minimum, the board shall offer:
7-27 (1) baccalaureate degree programs in child
8-1 development, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, and
8-2 textile design;
8-3 (2) master's degree programs in development education,
8-4 public health, physical therapy, nursing administration, library
8-5 and information science, creative writing, Hispanic literature,
8-6 linguistics, community health, international business, art, public
8-7 policy and ethnic studies, and urban planning; and
8-8 (3) doctoral degree programs in environmental science,
8-9 history, public policy, business administration, community health,
8-10 mechanical engineering, linguistics, multicultural education,
8-11 chemistry, Spanish, nursing, biological sciences, health science,
8-12 and mathematics.
8-13 Sec. 69.24. PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS. The board shall establish
8-14 architecture and pharmacy schools at the university at locations in
8-15 El Paso County selected by the board.
8-16 Sec. 69.25. HISPANIC POPULATIONS RESEARCH CENTER. (a) The
8-17 board shall establish as a component of the university a Hispanic
8-18 populations research center at a location selected by the board.
8-19 (b) The center established under this section shall study
8-20 the demographic effect of Hispanic populations on the border area
8-21 and on the rest of this state.
8-22 Sec. 69.26. ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
8-23 CENTER. (a) The board shall establish as a component of the
8-24 university an environmental resource management research center at
8-25 a location selected by the board.
8-26 (b) The center established under this section shall study
8-27 the effect of the environment on public health in the border area
9-1 and the impact of humans on the environment in the border area.
9-2 Sec. 69.27. PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS RESEARCH CENTER. (a)
9-3 The board shall establish as a component of the university a public
9-4 school partnerships research center at a location selected by the
9-5 board.
9-6 (b) The center established under this section shall work
9-7 with public schools in the border area to offer precollege
9-8 programs.
9-9 SECTION 7. Chapter 69, Education Code, is amended by adding
9-10 Subchapter C to read as follows:
9-11 SUBCHAPTER C. EL PASO HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
9-12 Sec. 69.41. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
9-13 (1) "Center" means the El Paso Health Science Center.
9-14 (2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
9-15 meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
9-16 Sec. 69.42. COMPONENT. (a) The center is a component of
9-17 the university.
9-18 (b) The center is under the management and control of the
9-19 board.
9-20 (c) The board shall select a location in El Paso County for
9-21 the center.
9-22 Sec. 69.43. COURSES AND DEGREES. (a) Except as provided by
9-23 Subsection (b), the board shall prescribe courses at the center
9-24 leading to customary degrees as are offered at other health science
9-25 centers or medical schools in this state.
9-26 (b) At a minimum, the board shall offer a program leading to
9-27 a doctoral degree in medicine.
10-1 Sec. 69.44. SERVICES OF CENTER. (a) The center shall:
10-2 (1) conduct research relating to diseases in the
10-3 border area;
10-4 (2) develop diagnostic and treatment procedures for
10-5 diseases in the border area;
10-6 (3) provide training programs for medical students and
10-7 resident physicians; and
10-8 (4) provide for the diagnosis and treatment of
10-9 patients in the border area, including indigent patients.
10-10 (b) The board may contract with the governing board of
10-11 another health science center or of a general academic teaching
10-12 institution to provide the services of the center.
10-13 SECTION 8. (a) Not later than the beginning of the fall
10-14 semester in 1997, the board of regents of The University of Texas
10-15 System shall begin offering the courses and degrees required by
10-16 Section 69.23, Education Code, as added by this Act.
10-17 (b) Not later than September 1, 1995, the board of regents
10-18 of The University of Texas System shall take the necessary actions
10-19 to establish the professional schools and research centers under
10-20 Sections 69.24-69.27, Education Code, as added by this Act.
10-21 (c) Not later than the beginning of the fall semester in
10-22 1997, the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall
10-23 begin admitting students to the professional schools established
10-24 under Section 69.24, Education Code, as added by this Act.
10-25 (d) Not later than January 1, 1997, the research centers
10-26 established under Sections 69.25-69.27, Education Code, as added by
10-27 this Act, shall begin conducting research.
11-1 (e) Not later than September 1, 1995, the board of regents
11-2 of The University of Texas System shall take the necessary actions
11-3 to establish the El Paso Health Science Center under Subchapter C,
11-4 Chapter 69, Education Code, as added by this Act.
11-5 (f) Not later than the beginning of the fall semester in
11-6 1999, the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall
11-7 begin admitting students to the El Paso Health Science Center
11-8 established under Subchapter C, Chapter 69, Education Code, as
11-9 added by this Act.
11-10 (g) To the extent that money is available for this purpose,
11-11 the board of regents of The University of Texas System shall
11-12 provide the funding required by Sections 65.47 and 65.48, Education
11-13 Code, as added by this Act, beginning the fiscal year beginning
11-14 September 1, 1995.
11-15 (h) The courses, degree programs, professional schools,
11-16 research centers, and health science center established under
11-17 Sections 69.23-69.27 and Subchapter C, Chapter 69, Education Code,
11-18 as added by this Act, are not subject to Section 61.055, Education
11-19 Code.
11-20 SECTION 9. The importance of this legislation and the
11-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
11-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
11-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
11-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
11-25 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
11-26 passage, and it is so enacted.