SRC-MKV C.S.H.B. 1716 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1716
77R15833 JSA-DBy: Puente (Van de Putte)
Education
5/10/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 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. C.S.H.B. 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

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 75, Education Code, by adding Subchapter C, as
follows: 

Subchapter C.  SAN ANTONIO LIFE SCIENCES INSTITUTE

Sec. 75.201.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "board," "health science center,"
"institute," and "university." 

Sec. 75.202.  ESTABLISHMENT.  Authorizes the board of regents of The
University of Texas System (board) to establish and maintain the San
Antonio Life Sciences Institute (institute) as a joint partnership of the
health science center and The University of Texas at San Antonio
(university). 

Sec. 75.203.  ROLE AND SCOPE.  (a) Requires the institute to specialize in
research and teaching in the life sciences. 

(b) Requires the institute to develop joint degree programs and joint
research programs for the health science center and the university. 

(c) Authorizes the institute to accept gifts, grants, and donations from
any source for the purposes of the program.  Authorizes the institute to
develop or use land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and other
improvements in connection with the program. Authorizes the institute, to
the extent that any funds are appropriated in the General Appropriations
Act by the 77th Legislature, to accept any amount authorized.  

(d) Requires the institute to seek private and federal funding to support
operation and management of the institute. 

Sec. 75.204.  OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT.  (a) Provides that the
administration of the institute is under the direction of the chancellor of
The University of Texas System and the  board through the presidents of the
health science center and the university. 

(b) Authorizes the costs of the operation and management of the institute
to be paid from money appropriated for that purpose and from other money
from any public or private source.  Requires the institute to retain all
indirect costs received or recovered under a grant or contract. 

(c) Authorizes the board to make joint appointments of faculty or other
personnel to the institute and to either or both the health science center
and the university. Requires the salary of a person receiving a joint
appointment to be apportioned on the basis of services rendered. 

(d) Requires the institute to be located in facilities determined
appropriate by the board. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.