SRC-ARR H.B. 2025 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2025
76R8812 CAG-FBy: Pickett (Shapleigh)
Border Affairs - Special
4/28/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not provide for a Border Health Institute. H.B.
2025 establishes the Border Health Institute in El Paso, Texas, and sets
forth the participating institutions and entities that will have
representation on the institute's governing board. The purpose of the
institute is to deliver health care or provide health education to persons
living in the border region and conduct research in fields of study
affecting public health in the boarder region. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2025 establishes the Border Health Institute.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the governing board of the Border Health
Institute in SECTION 1 (Section 151.004(b), Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Title 3H, Education Code, by adding Chapter 151, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 151. BORDER HEALTH INSTITUTE

 Sec. 151.001. DEFINITION. Defines "institute."

Sec. 151.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. Provides that the Border Health
Institute (institute) is established in the city of El Paso. Requires the
institute to operate in a manner that facilitates or assists the activities
of international, national, regional, or local healthrelated institutions
working in the Texas-Mexico border region to deliver health care and
conduct research. 

Sec. 151.003. INSTITUTE MEMBERSHIP. Provides that the institute is composed
of certain institutions. Authorizes the governing board of the institute
(board) to adopt procedures for allowing additional entities to become
members of the institute. 

Sec. 151.004. ADMINISTRATION. Provides that the governing body of the
institute is composed of the chief executive officer of each entity that is
a member of the institute or the officer's designee. Provides that the
board of the institute is responsible for the operation of the institute.
Requires the board to adopt certain rules. Authorizes the board to employ
an executive director of the institute and any other officer or employee
necessary for the operation of the institute. Requires the board to meet,
at least once a year, to review the progress of the institute and to
determine the institute's actions in the next year. 

Sec. 151.005. FUNDING. Authorizes the institute, in addition to any amount
appropriated by the legislature, to apply for and accept funds from the
federal government or any other public or private entity. Authorizes the
institute or any member of the institute to also solicit and accept
pledges, gifts, and endowments from private sources on the institute's
behalf. Requires the board to manage and approve all disbursements of
funds, and capital improvements constructed by the institute and any real
property acquired by the institute. 
 
Sec. 151.006. ANNUAL REPORTING. Requires the institute to provide to each
member of the governing board of the institute an annual audited financial
statement and a status report of each project undertaken by the institute. 

Sec. 151.007. COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION. Provides that the institute
is subjected to the continuing supervision of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (coordinating board) under Chapter 61 and to the rules
of the coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61.  

SECTION 2. Requires the coordinating board, not later than January 1, 2001,
to prepare an impact statement examining the initial implementation of this
Act and to deliver a copy of the statement to the governing body of the
institute and to the chairs of the standing committees of each house of the
legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education.  

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.