75R11709 CAG-D By Hinojosa, Solis, Wise, Gutierrez, Flores, H.B. No. 1557 et al. Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1557: By Solis C.S.H.B. No. 1557 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the establishment and operation of a regional academic 1-3 health center by The University of Texas System. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 74, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter L to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER L. LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY ACADEMIC HEALTH 1-8 CENTER 1-9 Sec. 74.611. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN 1-10 CENTER. (a) The Board of Regents of The University of Texas 1-11 System may establish a regional academic health center serving 1-12 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties. The center may 1-13 consist of facilities located throughout the region. The board may 1-14 execute and carry out affiliation or coordination agreements with 1-15 any other entity or institution in the region to establish or to 1-16 participate in the establishment or operation of the center. 1-17 (b) The board may assign responsibility for the management 1-18 of the regional academic health center to any component institution 1-19 or institutions of The University of Texas System. The operating 1-20 costs of the regional academic health center shall be paid from 1-21 operating funds of the component institution and from available 1-22 funds of any other public or private entity. 1-23 (c) The center may be used to provide undergraduate clinical 1-24 education, graduate education, including residency training 2-1 programs, or other levels of medical educational work in those 2-2 counties in connection with any component institution or 2-3 institutions of The University of Texas System as the board 2-4 determines appropriate. 2-5 Sec. 74.612. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may accept and 2-6 administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or 2-7 entity for the use and benefit of the regional academic health 2-8 center. 2-9 Sec. 74.613. FACILITIES. The physical facilities of the 2-10 regional academic health center used in its teaching and research 2-11 programs, including libraries, auditoriums, research facilities, 2-12 and medical education buildings, may be provided by a public or 2-13 private entity. A physical facility may not be constructed, 2-14 maintained, or operated with money from state appropriations or 2-15 other state funds. 2-16 Sec. 74.614. TEACHING HOSPITAL. A teaching hospital 2-17 considered suitable by the board may be provided by a public or 2-18 private entity. The hospital may not be constructed, maintained, 2-19 or operated with state funds. 2-20 Sec. 74.615. COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION. The regional 2-21 academic health center is subject to the continuing supervision of 2-22 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Chapter 61 and 2-23 to the rules of the coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61. 2-24 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-25 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.