Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         By:  Lucio                                    S.B. No. 606

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the establishment of a Regional Academic Health Center.

 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-3           SECTION 1.  Title 3, Chapter 74, Texas Education Code,

 1-4     74.701-74.705 are added to read as follows:

 1-5            SUBCHAPTER L.  REGIONAL ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER TO BE

 1-6                 ESTABLISHED AND LOCATED BY BOARD OF REGENTS

 1-7           Sec. 74.701.  Establishment and Location; Name; Scope

 1-8           The University of Texas System Board of Regents may establish

 1-9     a Regional Academic Health Center, and execute and carry out

1-10     affiliation or coordinating agreements with any other entity or

1-11     institution in the four county Lower Rio Grande Valley area

1-12     (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy) to provide clinical,

1-13     postgraduate, including internship and residency, or other levels

1-14     of medical professional education for The Regional Academic Health

1-15     Center.  The Board of Regents may assign responsibility for

1-16     management of the Regional Academic Health Center to any of The

1-17     University of Texas component health institutions.

1-18           Sec. 74.702.  Physical Facilities

1-19           The board shall make provision for adequate physical

1-20     facilities for use by The Regional Academic Health Center,

1-21     including library, auditorium, research facilities and medical

1-22     education buildings, for use by The Regional Academic Health Center

1-23     in its teaching and research programs.  Funds for construction of

 2-1     the facilities may include, but not be limited to, general revenue

 2-2     appropriations and tuition revenue bonds.

 2-3           Sec. 74.703.  Grants Gifts

 2-4           The board, in its discretion, may accept and administer

 2-5     grants and gifts from any governmental entity, foundation, trust

 2-6     fund, corporation, or individual for the use and benefits of The

 2-7     Regional Academic Health Center.

 2-8           Sec. 74.704.  Teaching Hospital

 2-9           A teaching hospital or hospitals for The Regional Academic

2-10     Health Center shall be furnished at no cost or expense to the

2-11     state.  The state may not contribute any funds for the

2-12     construction, maintenance, or operation of a teaching hospital for

2-13     The Regional Academic Health Center.

2-14           Sec. 74.705.  Supervision by The Texas Higher Education

2-15     Coordinating Board

2-16           The Regional Academic Health Center is subject to the

2-17     continuing supervision of and to the rules and regulations of The

2-18     Texas Education Coordinating Board, as provided by Chapter 61 of

2-19     this code.