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.