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.
3-9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
3-10 Amend S.B. No. 606 as follows:
3-11 (1) In SECTION 1, in proposed Section 74.611(a), Education
3-12 Code (page 1, lines 13-14, engrossed version), strike ", if general
3-13 revenue funds are specifically appropriated by the legislature for
3-14 that purpose".
3-15 (2) In SECTION 1, at the end of proposed Section 74.611(a),
3-16 Education Code, after "center" and before the period (page 1, lines
3-17 13-14, engrossed version), insert ", including Driscoll Children's
3-18 Hospital for on-site pediatrics in the counties listed in this
3-19 subsection".
3-20 (3) Add a new SECTION 2 to read as follows and renumber the
3-21 subsequent sections accordingly:
3-22 SECTION 2. Not later than May 31, 1998, the Texas Higher
3-23 Education Coordinating Board shall prepare an impact statement
3-24 examining the initial implementation of this Act and shall deliver
3-25 a copy of the statement to the Board of Regents of The University
4-1 of Texas System and to the chairs of the standing committees of
4-2 each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
4-3 education.
4-4 75R13796 JSA-D Rabuck