SRC-PNG H.B. 1504 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1504 By: Goolsby (Harris) Health Services 5/10/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia in older people. Dementia is a medical condition that disrupts the way the brain works. This disease affects the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. This bill would establish a consortium of Alzheimer's disease centers at institutions of higher education to provide centralized, uniform services among the consortium centers. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1504 establishes a consortium of Alzheimer's disease centers at institutions of higher education to provide centralized, uniform services among the consortium centers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 3H, Education Code, by adding Chapter 151, as follows: CHAPTER 151. CONSORTIUM OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE CENTERS Sec. 151.001. DEFINITION. Defines "council." Sec. 151.002. CONSORTIUM; CLINICAL CENTERS. Requires the Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (council) to establish a consortium of Alzheimer's disease centers (consortium), to be initially composed of the Alzheimer's disease centers at the Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Provides that the consortium is directed by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Authorizes the council to add additional consortium participants to the consortium as necessary. Requires the council to fund the consortium participants' development of clinical centers that meet the standards of the consortium. Authorizes a participant's clinical center to hire necessary employees. Sec. 151.003. PROGRAMS. Requires the consortium to coordinate and direct its programs, as is practicable, to provide centralized, uniform services among the consortium participants. Requires the consortium to offer clinical services to all patients of the consortium's clinical centers. Requires the consortium to establish a database for making data available to each consortium participant, for providing a resource index to facilitate research projects, and for providing data on patient health outcomes to appropriate state agencies and to researchers in this state. Requires the consortium with the aid of the council and the national Alzheimer's Association or its affiliate to develop and distribute to patients, caregivers, and health-care professionals, educational materials and services and inform patients of any research projects and therapeutic trials open for their participation. Sec. 151.004. STEERING COMMITTEE. Requires the council to establish a steering committee composed of one representative from each consortium participant to advise the council on consortium activities. Sec. 151.005. DATA COORDINATING CENTER. Requires the council to establish a data coordinating center to be located at a participating institution and to operate the center, as is practicable, in association with the data management operations of that institution's Alzheimer's disease center. Requires the data coordinating center to establish a database and make data available to each consortium participant according to the specific activities of the participant. Requires the council to appoint a physician or other person with a similar clinical background to administer the center. Authorizes the administrator of the center to employ any personnel necessary to support the center's activities, including a project coordinator. Authorizes the administrator to require the project coordinator to hold a master's or doctoral degree related to public health. Requires the project coordinator to coordinate the activities among the center, the consortium participants, the council and the public. Sec. 151.006. FUNDING. Authorizes the council to receive state-appropriated funds for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the consortium and data coordinating center under this chapter. Authorizes the council to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for purposes of this chapter. Sec. 151.007. ACCESS TO DATA. Authorizes the council to restrict access to the data maintained by the consortium or data coordinating center under this chapter. Requires the steering committee to periodically review and evaluate the availability and sharing of data under this section. Sec. 151.008. PERFORMANCE REVIEW. Requires the council, with recommendations from the steering committee, to review and evaluate the performance of the consortium participants and data coordinating center at least every five years. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.