SRC-AAA C.S.S.B. 606 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 606
By: Lucio
Finance
4-8-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, there is no organized tax-based funding of indigent care in the
Rio Grande Valley. Population in four counties of the Lower Rio Grande
Valley is approaching 900,000. Local health departments and state
regional health offices have been asked to absorb indigent patient care,
or it is absorbed in the form of inflated costs associated with emergency
room drop-ins.  This bill provides for the creation of the Regional
Academic Health Center, which would provide much needed medical care and
fulfill the increased demand for primary care physicians.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 606 authorizes the University of Texas System to
establish the Regional Academic Health Center in the four-county of the
Lower Rio Grande Valley area. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

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

SUBCHAPTER L. LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER

Sec. 74.611. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN CENTER. Authorizes
the board of regents of the University of Texas System (board) to
establish the Regional Academic Health Center (center), if general revenue
funds are specifically appropriated by the legislature for this purpose,
for certain counties. Authorizes the board to carry out certain
agreements.  Authorizes the board to assign responsibility for management
of the center to any University of Texas component institution. Sets forth
uses for the center. 

Sec. 74.612. GIFTS AND GRANTS.  Authorizes the board to accept grants and
gifts for the center. 

Sec. 74.613. FACILITIES. Requires the board to provide adequate physical
facilities for use by the center in its teaching and research programs.
Sets forth sources of funds for the physical facilities. 

Sec. 74.614. TEACHING HOSPITAL. Authorizes a teaching hospital considered
suitable by the board to be provided by a public or private entity.
Prohibits the hospital from being constructed, maintained, or operated
with state funds. 

Sec. 74.615.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  Provides that the center is
subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, as provided in Chapter 61, Education Code, and to the
rules of the coordinating board. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.


 SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Chapter 74, Education Code, by deleting proposed SECTION 1 and
adding Subchapter L, regarding the establishment and operation of a Lower
Rio Grande Valley Academic Health Center by the University of Texas
System. 

SECTIONS 2 and 3.

Adds effective date and emergency clause.