HBA-LJP H.B. 1716 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1716
By: Puente
Higher Education
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio is a medical school that provides biomedical education, training,
and research, and The University of Texas at San Antonio is a general
academic institution of higher education.  Sharing biological and
biomedical resources between these institutions may provide a bridge from
undergraduate to graduate work for life sciences students. House Bill 1716
creates and establishes the San Antonio Life Science Institute to develop
joint degree programs and joint research programs in the life sciences. 

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 1716 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents
of The University of Texas System (board) to establish and maintain the San
Antonio Life Science Institute (institute),  as a joint partnership of The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (health science
center) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (university).  The bill
requires the institute to specialize in the research and teaching of life
sciences, to develop joint degree programs and joint research programs for
the health science center and the university, and to seek private and
federal funding to support the operation and management of the institution. 

The bill sets forth provisions regarding the administration of the
institute, the joint appointment of faculty and other personnel, and the
salary of persons receiving a joint appointment.  The bill provides that
the costs of the operation and management of the institute may be paid from
money appropriated for that purpose and from other money from any public or
private source.  The bill also requires the institute to retain all
indirect costs received or recovered under a grant or contract. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.