HBA-CBW H.B. 2510 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2510
By: Chavez
Higher Education
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to the American Diabetes Association, 15.7 million people or 5.9
percent of the population of the United States have diabetes. The  Texas
Department of Health estimates that, in 1998, 1.6 million Texans or 12
percent of the state's population had diabetes.  Based on Texas death
certificate data, diabetes contributed to 12,299 deaths in 1996 and was the
sixth leading cause of death listed on Texas death certificates.  Many
people first become aware of the devastating effects of diabetes when they
develop such complications as blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage,
heart disease, and stroke. Many of the components associated with the
disease are unknown and need further research. House Bill 2510 requires the
board of regents of the Texas Tech University System to establish the Texas
Diabetes Research Center for the purpose of researching diabetes and other
related factors associated with the disease. 

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 2510 amends the Education Code to require the board of regents
of the Texas Tech University System (board) to establish, not later than
January 1, 2003,  the Texas Diabetes Research Center (center) for the
purposes of researching issues related to diabetes and conditions
associated with the disease.  The bill provides that the organization,
control, and management of the center is vested in the board.  The bill
requires the board to approve the employment of personnel by and the
operating budget of the center, and provides that an employee of the center
is an employee of Texas Tech University.  The board is  required to select
a site for the center at the El Paso campus of Texas Tech University.  The
bill authorizes the center to enter into an agreement or cooperate with a
public or private entity to perform the research functions of the center. 

The bill authorizes the board to solicit, accept, and administer gifts and
grants from any public or private source for the use and benefit of the
center and provides that the center is subject to the rules and supervision
of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.