MMA S.B. 606 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


HIGHER EDUCATION
S.B. 606
By: Lucio (Hinojosa)
5-1-97
Committee Report (Amended)

BACKGROUND 

The poor distribution of primary care physicians is most obvious in South
Texas.  In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the average number of doctors per
100,000 populace is less than half of the statewide level.  This shortage
of primary care providers is highlighted by the lack of preventative care
and indigent health programs in the area.  The total population of
Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy counties is approaching 900,000,
making the Rio Grande Valley the largest area in the state with no
academic medical facility to help serve the needs of the community. 

The University of Texas is willing to expand its residency programs in the
area and also develop a program where third and fourth year medical
students would  receive instruction in the Rio Grande Valley.  Currently,
the nearest academic medical institution is in San Antonio, over two
hundred miles away. 

A new program, modeled after an existing Regional Academic Health Center
(RAHC), would be affiliated with one of the existing medical schools, such
as University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio or University of
Texas Medical Branch-Galveston allowing local communities to coordinate
with the University of Texas board of regents to provide assistance in the
funding of land, construction and operations costs. 

PURPOSE

S.B. 606 would authorize the University of Texas System to establish a
RAHC in the four-county area of the Lower Rio Grande Valley area. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 74, Education Code, by adding Subchapter L to
read as follows:  

SUBCHAPTER L.  LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER.
Sec. 74.611.  AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN CENTER.
(a) Authorizes the board of regents of the University of Texas System
(board) to establish a regional academic health center (RAHC) to serve
certain counties and may include any medical institution in the
aforementioned counties to participate in the program, if general revenue
funds are appropriated by the legislature.  Allows the center to consist
of facilities located throughout the region.  Authorizes the board to
execute and carry out agreements for the RAHC with any other entity or
institution in the region to establish or to participate in the
establishment or operation of the center. 
(b) Authorizes the board to assign responsibility for the management of
the RAHC to any University of Texas System component institution. States
that the operating costs of the RAHC will be paid from operating funds of
the component institution and from available funds of any other public or
private entity. 
(c) Authorizes the RAHC to be used, as the board deems appropriate, to
provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education, including
residency training  programs, or other levels of medical educational work
in counties identified in Subsection (a) in connection with a component
institution of The University of Texas System. 

Sec. 74.612. GIFTS AND GRANTS.  Authorizes the board to accept and
administer gifts and grants from public or private entities for the use
and benefit of the RAHC. 

Sec. 74.613.  FACILITIES. Authorizes physical facilities of RAHC to be
provided by a public or private entity.  Permits the use of state money
for construction, maintenance and operation of physical facilities. 

Sec. 74.614.  TEACHING HOSPITAL. Authorizes a teaching hospital determined
suitable by the board to be provided by a public or private entity.
Prohibits state funds to be used for construction, maintenance, or
operation of a teaching hospital for the RAHC.   

Sec. 74.615.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  Provides that the RAHC is
subject to the continuing supervision of the THECB and its rules, as
provided in Chapter 61, Education Code.  

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee amendment No. 1 amends SECTION 1, by striking language which
makes the program contingent upon a specific appropriation of general
revenue funds.  Also, adds language including Driscoll Children's Hospital
for on-site pediatrics, as an eligible program. 

Also, adds a new SECTION 2 which requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to prepare an impact statement no later than May 31,
1998, and requires that a copy of the statement be delivered to the Board
of Regents of The University of Texas System and to the respective chairs
of the House Committee on Higher Education and the Senate Education
Committee.