S.C.R. No. 124 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Charter for Public Higher Education 1-2 establishes public service as a "significant function" of the 1-3 higher education system, including junior colleges and community 1-4 colleges, with direct patient care being an additional 1-5 responsibility of the state's health science institutions; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The contribution of these institutions in providing 1-7 patient care and producing a medical workforce in keeping with the 1-8 needs of the state has become increasingly important in an era of 1-9 budget constraints and health care reform; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Residents in many areas of the state are medically 1-11 underserved and could benefit greatly by enhancement of the level 1-12 of health professions education in those regions; now, therefore, 1-13 be it 1-14 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-15 hereby direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to 1-16 study the feasibility and advisability of defining and establishing 1-17 regional areas of principal responsibility for health professions 1-18 education at institutions of higher education to ensure statewide 1-19 access to these programs; and, be it further 1-20 RESOLVED, That the institutions that provide health 1-21 professions education cooperate with the Texas Higher Education 1-22 Coordinating Board in developing the report; and, be it further 1-23 RESOLVED, That the purpose of these regions is to establish a 1-24 specific level of accountability for each institution in its 2-1 designated service area; and, be it further 2-2 RESOLVED, That the board report its findings to the governor, 2-3 the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of 2-4 representatives, and members of the legislature by December 1, 2-5 1996; and, be it further 2-6 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-7 copy of this resolution to the members of the Texas Higher 2-8 Education Coordinating Board.