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.