HBA-JLV H.B. 753 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 753 By: Hochberg Higher Education 7/17/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC) are equal supporters of graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels at The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston (GSBS). Both institutions combine resources and faculty to provide administrative, financial, and instructional support for GSBS. Due to the dual training role, UTMDACC sought joint degree authority with UTHSC for master's and doctoral level programs in the GSBS. Joint degree granting authority will formally recognize UTMDACC's role in training students in the health science fields. House Bill 753 authorizes the board of regents of UTMDACC to jointly prescribe courses and jointly conduct graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels related to those purposes with UTHSC at GSBS. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 753 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents of The University of Texas System to jointly prescribe courses and jointly conduct graduate programs through The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The bill provides that the courses and programs are to be at the master's and doctoral levels and related to the diagnosis, teaching, study, prevention, and treatment of neoplastic and allied diseases. The bill also provides that the degree programs to be offered are subject to approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. EFFECTIVE DATE May 11, 2001.