SRC-MWN H.B. 910 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 910
By: Gutierrez (Lucio)
Education
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, The Texas Legislature established The Texas A&M University System
Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health (school) as a part of a
rural health initiative to better address rural health needs in the state.
Currently, the South Texas Center for Rural Public Health, located in
McAllen, is a branch of the school. As a branch of the school, the South
Texas Center focuses on programs that assist citizens in the Rio Grande
Valley who have historically encountered barriers to health providers and
programs because of geographic isolation, economic constraints, or
transportation problems. H.B. 910 formally establishes The Texas A&M
University System Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public
Health to deliver health education outreach programs, deliver and provide
community based instructional sites for the education of public health
professionals, and address the need to overcome the limited access of rural
residents to public health professionals.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

H.B. 910 amends the Education Code to require the board of regents of The
Texas A&M University System (board) to establish The Texas A&M University
System Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health
(center). The bill requires the center to develop and provide
communitybased instructional sites for the education of public health
professionals and the delivery of health education outreach programs. The
bill sets forth provisions for the participation of other institutions in
the center's programs, the location of the center's educational facilities,
and affiliation or coordination agreements regarding the establishment and
operation of the center. H.B. 910 requires the board to assign
responsibility for the management of the center to The Texas A&M University
System Health Science Center, and provides for the payment of the operating
costs of the center. The center may be used to provide public health
graduate education or other levels of health education in the area served
by the center in connection with any component institutions of The Texas
A&M University System (system). The bill authorizes the center, in
providing education, to use community outreach programs to provide persons
receiving education at the center with any necessary experience, and to
conduct certain research programs. H.B. 910 sets forth that the board is
required to implement the center only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose. If such money is appropriated, the system is
required to establish and operate the center not later than January 1 of
the first state fiscal year for which the appropriation is made. The bill
also requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to prepare not
later than August 31, 2002, an impact statement examining the initial
implementation of this Act and deliver it to the board of regents of the
system and both houses of the legislature.  

Effective date: September 1, 2001.