SRC-JJJ S.B. 1288 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1288
By: Zaffirini
Education
7/26/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, the South Texas/Border Region faces unique health problems that
if not addressed now, will endanger the future health of the state's
population.  S.B. 1288 will provide the establishment and operation of a
campus extension of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1288 provides the establishment and operation of a campus
extension of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. 

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 74, Education Code, by adding Subchapter M, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER M. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO
CAMPUS EXTENSION 

Sec. 74.701.  AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH CAMPUS EXTENSION.  Requires the board
of regents (board) of the University of Texas System to establish and
operate a campus extension of the University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio (UTHSC) in the city of Laredo if certain conditions exist.   

Sec. 74.702.  MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF CAMPUS EXTENSION. Authorizes the
board to exercise any power granted to the board under Subchapter D in
establishing and operating the campus extension.  Requires the board to
assign responsibility for management of the campus extension.  Requires the
operating costs of the campus extension to be paid from the UTHSC for that
purpose and from available funds from any public or private entity.
Provides that the primary purpose of the campus extension is to support
educational activities.  Authorizes the campus extension, in collaboration
with factions of the Texas A&M University System and University of Texas
System, to be used to provide certain undergraduate and graduate medical
and dental education. 

Sec. 74.703.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  Authorizes the board to accept and
administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or entity for
the use and benefit of the campus extension.   
 
Sec. 74.704.  FACILITIES.  Authorizes the physical facilities of the campus
extension used in teaching and research programs to be provided by a public
or private entity.  Provides that the board of regents is authorized to
lease the facilities that are to be used as the physical facilities of the
campus extension.  Authorizes a teaching hospital considered suitable by
the board of regents to be provided by a public or private entity.
Prohibits the hospital from being constructed, maintained, or operated with
state funds. 

 Sec. 74.705.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  Provides that the campus
extension is subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and to the adopted rules of THECB. 
 
SECTION 2.  Requires THECB to prepare an impact statement examining initial
implementation of this Act, and to deliver a copy of the statement to
certain individuals, not later than August 31, 2000.  Requires the board to
report to THECB if the conditions relating to the provision of land and an
administrative building to the board have been satisfied, not later than
December 1, 1999. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that the board is required to implement this Act only
if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose.
Establishes that the board may, but is not required to, implement this Act
using other appropriations of private funds available for that purpose, if
funds are not specifically appropriated. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.