By:  Lucio, Zaffirini                                  S.B. No. 606

              Moncrief, Truan

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the establishment and operation of a regional academic

 1-2     health center by The University of Texas System.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 74, Education Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Subchapter L to read as follows:

 1-6                   SUBCHAPTER L.  LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY

 1-7                           ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER

 1-8           Sec. 74.611.  AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN

 1-9     CENTER.  (a)  The board of regents of The University of Texas

1-10     System may establish a regional academic health center serving

1-11     Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties, and may include any

1-12     medical institutions for participation in the program in the

1-13     aforementioned counties, if general revenue funds are specifically

1-14     appropriated by the legislature for that purpose.  The center may

1-15     consist of facilities located throughout the region.  The board may

1-16     execute and carry out affiliation or coordination agreements with

1-17     any other entity or institution in the region to establish or to

1-18     participate in the establishment or operation of the center.

1-19           (b)  The board of regents may assign responsibility for the

1-20     management of the regional academic health center to any component

1-21     institution or institutions of The University of Texas System.  The

1-22     operating costs of the regional academic health center shall be

1-23     paid from operating funds of the component institution and from

 2-1     available funds of any other public or private entity.

 2-2           (c)  The regional academic health center may be used to

 2-3     provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education,

 2-4     including residency training programs, or other levels of medical

 2-5     educational work in the counties identified in Subsection (a) in

 2-6     connection with any component institution or institutions of The

 2-7     University of Texas System as the board of regents determines

 2-8     appropriate.

 2-9           Sec. 74.612.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  The board of regents may

2-10     accept and administer gifts and grants from any public or private

2-11     person or entity for the use and benefit of the regional academic

2-12     health center.

2-13           Sec. 74.613.  FACILITIES.  The physical facilities of the

2-14     regional academic health center used in its teaching and research

2-15     programs, including libraries, auditoriums, research facilities,

2-16     and medical education buildings, may be provided by a public or

2-17     private entity.  A physical facility may be constructed,

2-18     maintained, or operated with state money appropriated for that

2-19     purpose.

2-20           Sec. 74.614.  TEACHING HOSPITAL.  A teaching hospital

2-21     considered suitable by the board of regents may be provided by a

2-22     public or private entity.  The hospital may not be constructed,

2-23     maintained, or operated with state funds.

2-24           Sec. 74.615.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  The regional

2-25     academic health center is subject to the continuing supervision of

 3-1     the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Chapter 61 and

 3-2     to the rules of the coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61.

 3-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 3-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 3-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 3-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.