SRC-CTC S.B. 1303 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1303 77R4369 KEL-DBy: Shapleigh Education 3/28/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center provides a four-year medical school program that consists of several options, one of which places students in Lubbock for two years, followed by two years in El Paso. Approximately 50 students graduate from the Lubbock/El Paso program each year and pursue residency opportunities throughout the state. As proposed, S.B. 1303 expands the statutory authority of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center program to allow all four years of the medical program to be taught in El Paso and to attempt to address the inadequate medical infrastructure in the El Paso/Juarez border region. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Tech University Board of Regents in SECTION 1 (Section 110.061, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 110, Education Code, by adding Section 110.061, as follows: Sec. 110.061. MEDICAL PROGRAM IN EL PASO COUNTY. Authorizes the Texas Tech University Board of Regents (board), on approval of the coordinating board, to establish and maintain a doctor of medicine degree program at the component of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Located in El Paso County. (b) Requires the board to prescribe the full curriculum leading to a doctor of medicine degree and is authorized to make rules for the operation, control, and management of the medical program as may be necessary for its conduct as a medical program of the first class. (c) Authorizes the board to accept and administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or entity for the use and benefit of the medical program. (d) Requires the board to provide adequate physical facilities for use by the medical program in its teaching and research programs. (e) Authorizes a teaching hospital considered suitable by the board to be provided by a public or private entity. Prohibits the hospital from being maintained with state funds. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.