SRC-MWN H.B. 1640 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1640
By: Rangel (Truan)
Education
5/4/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

According to the 2000 report "Texas-Mexico Border Health Education Needs: A
Report to the 77th Legislature" of the Texas Department of Health and the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas-Mexico border region
(border region) has a population-to-pharmacist ratio of 1,770:1, which is
32 percent higher than the statewide ratio. The report contends that the
border's rapid population growth and difficulty in recruiting and retaining
pharmacists, and the lack of an increase in the number of pharmacist
graduates in Texas in recent  years, contribute to the pharmacist shortage
in the border region. Currently, there are no public pharmacy schools in
the border region and a pharmacy school in South Texas may help relieve the
shortage of pharmacists in the border region. H.B. 1640 authorizes the
creation of a professional school of pharmacy at Texas A&M
University-Kingsville.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 87D, Education Code, by adding Section 87.303, as
follows: 

Sec. 87.303. SCHOOL OF PHARMACY. (a) Authorizes the board of regent of The
Texas A&M University System (board) to establish and maintain a school of
pharmacy as a professional school of Texas A&M University--Kingsville. 

(b) Authorizes the board to prescribe courses leading to customary degrees
offered at other leading American schools of pharmacy and to award those
degrees. 

SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, not
later than August 31, 2002, to prepare an impact statement examining the
initial implementation of this Act  and deliver a copy of the statement to
certain persons. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.