By Truan, et al.                                       S.B. No. 590
         76R6038 CAG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the establishment of The Texas A&M University System
 1-3     Coastal Bend Health Education Center.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 86, Education Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Subchapter F to read as follows:
 1-7         SUBCHAPTER F. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM COASTAL BEND
 1-8                           HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER
 1-9           Sec. 86.91.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
1-10                 (1)  "Board" means the board of regents of The Texas
1-11     A&M University System.
1-12                 (2)  "Center" means The Texas A&M University System
1-13     Coastal Bend Health Education Center.
1-14           Sec. 86.92.  ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.  The board shall
1-15     establish The Texas A&M University System Coastal Bend Health
1-16     Education Center.
1-17           Sec. 86.93.  ROLE AND SCOPE OF CENTER.  (a)  The Center shall
1-18     develop and provide community-based instructional sites for the
1-19     education of health care professionals.
1-20           (b)  The Center may include any public or private medical,
1-21     dental, nursing, or other health care or educational institutions
1-22     for participation in its programs in the area served by the Center.
1-23           (c)  The Center may operate educational facilities located
1-24     throughout the Coastal Bend area as determined appropriate by the
 2-1     board.
 2-2           (d)  The board may execute and carry out affiliation or
 2-3     coordination agreements with any other educational entity or
 2-4     institution in the region, including a traditional or any other
 2-5     health service provider, to establish or to participate in the
 2-6     establishment or operation of the Center.
 2-7           Sec. 86.94.  MANAGEMENT OF CENTER.  (a)  The board shall
 2-8     assign responsibility for the management of the Center to The Texas
 2-9     A&M University System Health Science Center.
2-10           (b)  The operating costs of the Center shall be paid from
2-11     operating funds of The Texas A&M University System Health Science
2-12     Center or any participating institution and from available funds of
2-13     any other public or private entity.
2-14           Sec. 86.95.  AREAS OF CENTER EDUCATION.  (a)  The Center may
2-15     be used to provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate
2-16     education, or other levels of health care education work, including
2-17     work in areas related to the education of medical, dental, nursing,
2-18     public health, or other health-related professionals,  in the area
2-19     served by the Center in connection with any component institution
2-20     or institutions of The Texas A&M University System as the board
2-21     determines appropriate.
2-22           (b)  The Center, in providing education under this
2-23     subchapter, may:
2-24                 (1)  utilize community outreach programs to provide
2-25     persons receiving education at the Center with any necessary
2-26     experience; and
2-27                 (2)  conduct research programs related to:
 3-1                       (A)  areas in which education is provided by the
 3-2     Center; or
 3-3                       (B)  public health issues arising in or prevalent
 3-4     in the area served by the Center.
 3-5           Sec. 86.96.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  The board may solicit,
 3-6     accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
 3-7     person or entity for the use and benefit of the Center.
 3-8           Sec. 86.97.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  The Center is
 3-9     subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Higher Education
3-10     Coordinating Board under Chapter 61 and to the rules of the
3-11     coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61.
3-12           SECTION 2.  The board of regents of The Texas A&M University
3-13     System shall establish and operate The Texas A&M University System
3-14     Coastal Bend Health Education Center as provided by Subchapter F,
3-15     Chapter 86, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
3-16     January 1, 2001.
3-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
3-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-23     passage, and it is so enacted.