SRC-DPW S.B. 590 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 590
76R6038 CAG-DBy: Truan
Higher Education
2/26/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas A&M University System operates a number of health
related facilities.  Citizens of the Coastal Bend of  Texas have identified
unmet needs in the areas of general family and child health issues and
environmental issues such as waste disposal and water quality.  This bill
would establish the Texas A&M University System Coastal Bend Education
Center and provide guidelines for its operation. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 590 requires the establishment of the Texas A&M
University System Coastal Bend Health Education Center and provides
guidelines for its operation. 

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 Chapter 86, Education Code, by adding Subchapter F, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER F.  THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM COASTAL BEND HEALTH
EDUCATION CENTER 

Sec. 86.91. DEFINITIONS.  Defines "board" and "center."

Sec. 86.92. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.  Requires the board of regents of the
Texas A&M University System (board) to establish the Texas A&M University
System Coastal Bend Health Education Center (center). 

Sec. 86.93. ROLE AND SCOPE OF CENTER. Requires the center to provide
communitybased instructional sites for the education of heath care
professionals.  Authorizes the center to include certain institutions for
participation in its programs.  Authorizes the center to operate
educational facilities located throughout the Coastal Bend determined
appropriate by the board. Authorizes the board to enter into certain
agreements with certain entities to establish and operate the center. 

Sec. 86.94. MANAGEMENT OF CENTER. Requires the board to assign management
responsibility of the center to the Texas A&M University System Health
Science Center. Requires the operating costs of the center to be paid from
operating funds of the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center or
other participating entities. 

Sec. 86.95. AREAS OF CENTER EDUCATION. Authorizes the center to provide
undergraduate and graduate clinical education, or certain other levels of
health care education work, in an area determined appropriate by the board.
Authorizes the center to utilize community outreach programs and conduct
research programs in areas of education provided by the center or public
health issues arising in the area of the center. 

Sec. 86.96. GIFTS AND GRANTS. Authorizes the board to solicit, accept, and
administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or entity for
the benefit of the center. 

Sec. 86.97. COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION. Provides that the center is
subject  to the supervision and rules of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board under Chapter 61. 

SECTION 2. Requires the board of regents of the Texas A&M University System
to establish and operate the Texas A&M University System Coastal Bend
Health Center no later than January 1, 2001. 

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