By Gutierrez, Hinojosa, Flores, Wise, Solis H.B. No. 910
77R4915 KSD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the establishment of The Texas A&M University System
1-3 Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 86, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Subchapter G to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER G. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HEALTH SCIENCE
1-8 CENTER SOUTH TEXAS CENTER FOR RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH
1-9 Sec. 86.981. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-10 (1) "Board" means the board of regents of The Texas
1-11 A&M University System.
1-12 (2) "Center" means The Texas A&M University System
1-13 Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health.
1-14 Sec. 86.982. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER. The board shall
1-15 establish The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center
1-16 South Texas Center for Rural Public Health.
1-17 Sec. 86.983. ROLE AND SCOPE OF CENTER. (a) The center
1-18 shall develop and provide community-based instructional sites for
1-19 the education of public health professionals and the delivery of
1-20 health education outreach programs.
1-21 (b) The center may include any public or private medical,
1-22 dental, nursing, or other health care or educational institutions
1-23 for participation in its programs in the area served by the center.
1-24 (c) The center may operate educational facilities located
2-1 throughout the Rio Grande Valley area as determined appropriate by
2-2 the board.
2-3 (d) The board may execute and carry out affiliation or
2-4 coordination agreements with any other educational entity or
2-5 institution in the region, including a traditional or other health
2-6 service provider, to establish or to participate in the
2-7 establishment or operation of the center.
2-8 Sec. 86.984. MANAGEMENT OF CENTER. (a) The board shall
2-9 assign responsibility for the management of the center to The Texas
2-10 A&M University System Health Science Center.
2-11 (b) The operating costs of the center shall be paid from
2-12 operating funds of The Texas A&M University System Health Science
2-13 Center or of any other participating institution and from available
2-14 funds of any other public or private entity.
2-15 Sec. 86.985. AREAS OF CENTER EDUCATION. (a) The center may
2-16 be used to provide public health graduate education or other levels
2-17 of health education in the area served by the center in connection
2-18 with any component institution or institutions of The Texas A&M
2-19 University System as the board determines appropriate.
2-20 (b) The center, in providing education under this
2-21 subchapter, may:
2-22 (1) use community outreach programs to provide persons
2-23 receiving education at the center with any necessary experience;
2-24 and
2-25 (2) conduct research programs related to:
2-26 (A) areas in which education or outreach
2-27 programs are provided by the center; or
3-1 (B) public health issues arising in or prevalent
3-2 in the area served by the center.
3-3 Sec. 86.986. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit,
3-4 accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
3-5 person or entity for the use and benefit of the center.
3-6 Sec. 86.987. COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION. The center is
3-7 subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Higher Education
3-8 Coordinating Board under Chapter 61 and to the rules of the
3-9 coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61.
3-10 Sec. 86.988. IMPLEMENTATION OF CENTER. (a) The board is
3-11 required to implement the center only if the legislature
3-12 appropriates money specifically for that purpose.
3-13 (b) This section expires on the last day of the first state
3-14 fiscal year for which an appropriation is specifically made to
3-15 implement the center.
3-16 SECTION 2. If the 77th Legislature specifically appropriates
3-17 money for the implementation of The Texas A&M University System
3-18 Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health,
3-19 the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System shall
3-20 establish and operate the center as provided by Subchapter G,
3-21 Chapter 86, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
3-22 January 1 of the first state fiscal year for which the
3-23 appropriation is made.
3-24 SECTION 3. Not later than August 31, 2002, the Texas Higher
3-25 Education Coordinating Board shall prepare an impact statement
3-26 examining the initial implementation of this Act and shall deliver
3-27 a copy of the statement to the board of regents of The Texas A&M
4-1 University System and to the chairs of the standing committees of
4-2 each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
4-3 education.
4-4 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.