1-1     By:  Lucio, Moncrief, Truan, Zaffirini                 S.B. No. 606

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 14, 1997; February 19, 1997,

 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Finance;

 1-4     April 9, 1997, reported adversely, with favorable Committee

 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 13, Nays 0; April 9, 1997,

 1-6     sent to printer.)

 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 606                    By:  Lucio

 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-9                                   AN ACT

1-10     relating to the establishment and operation of a regional academic

1-11     health center by The University of Texas System.

1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-13           SECTION 1.  Chapter 74, Education Code, is amended by adding

1-14     Subchapter L to read as follows:

1-15                   SUBCHAPTER L.  LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY

1-16                           ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER

1-17           Sec. 74.611.  AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN

1-18     CENTER.  (a)  The board of regents of The University of Texas

1-19     System may establish a regional academic health center serving

1-20     Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties, if general revenue

1-21     funds are specifically appropriated by the legislature for that

1-22     purpose.  The center may consist of facilities located throughout

1-23     the region.  The board may execute and carry out affiliation or

1-24     coordination agreements with any other entity or institution in the

1-25     region to establish or to participate in the establishment or

1-26     operation of the center.

1-27           (b)  The board of regents may assign responsibility for the

1-28     management of the regional academic health center to any component

1-29     institution or institutions of The University of Texas System.

1-30           (c)  The regional academic health center may be used to

1-31     provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education,

1-32     including residency training programs, or other levels of medical

1-33     educational work in the counties identified in Subsection (a) in

1-34     connection with any component institution or institutions of The

1-35     University of Texas System as the board of regents determines

1-36     appropriate.

1-37           Sec. 74.612.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  The board of regents may

1-38     accept and administer gifts and grants from any public or private

1-39     person or entity for the use and benefit of the regional academic

1-40     health center.

1-41           Sec. 74.613.  FACILITIES.  The board of regents shall provide

1-42     adequate physical facilities for use by the regional academic

1-43     health center in its teaching and research programs, including

1-44     libraries, auditoriums, research facilities, and medical education

1-45     buildings.  The facilities may be constructed with money from state

1-46     appropriations or tuition revenue bonds authorized under other law.

1-47           Sec. 74.614.  TEACHING HOSPITAL.  A teaching hospital

1-48     considered suitable by the board of regents may be provided by a

1-49     public or private entity.  The hospital may not be constructed,

1-50     maintained, or operated with state funds.

1-51           Sec. 74.615.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  The regional

1-52     academic health center is subject to the continuing supervision of

1-53     the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Chapter 61 and

1-54     to the rules of the coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61.

1-55           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-56           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-57     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-58     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-59     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-60     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

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