1-1     By:  Gutierrez, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio)        H.B. No. 910
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001;
 1-3     May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Education; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the establishment of The Texas A&M University System
 1-9     Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Chapter 86, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-12     Subchapter G to read as follows:
1-13        SUBCHAPTER G. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HEALTH SCIENCE
1-14              CENTER SOUTH TEXAS CENTER FOR RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH
1-15           Sec. 86.981.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
1-16                 (1)  "Board" means the board of regents of The Texas
1-17     A&M University System.
1-18                 (2)  "Center" means The Texas A&M University System
1-19     Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health.
1-20           Sec. 86.982.  ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER.  The board shall
1-21     establish The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center
1-22     South Texas Center for Rural Public Health.
1-23           Sec. 86.983.  ROLE AND SCOPE OF CENTER.  (a)  The center
1-24     shall develop and provide community-based instructional sites for
1-25     the education of public health professionals and the delivery of
1-26     health education outreach programs.
1-27           (b)  The center may include any public or private medical,
1-28     dental, nursing, or other health care or educational institutions
1-29     for participation in its programs in the area served by the center.
1-30           (c)  The center may operate educational facilities located
1-31     throughout the Rio Grande Valley area as determined appropriate by
1-32     the board.
1-33           (d)  The board may execute and carry out affiliation or
1-34     coordination agreements with any other educational entity or
1-35     institution in the region, including a traditional or other health
1-36     service provider, to establish or to participate in the
1-37     establishment or operation of the center.
1-38           Sec. 86.984.  MANAGEMENT OF CENTER.  (a)  The board shall
1-39     assign responsibility for the management of the center to The Texas
1-40     A&M University System Health Science Center.
1-41           (b)  The operating costs of the center shall be paid from
1-42     operating funds of The Texas A&M University System Health Science
1-43     Center or of any other participating institution and from available
1-44     funds of any other public or private entity.
1-45           Sec. 86.985.  AREAS OF CENTER EDUCATION.  (a)  The center may
1-46     be used to provide public health graduate education or other levels
1-47     of health education in the area served by the center in connection
1-48     with any component institution or institutions of The Texas A&M
1-49     University System as the board determines appropriate.
1-50           (b)  The center, in providing education under this
1-51     subchapter, may:
1-52                 (1)  use community outreach programs to provide persons
1-53     receiving education at the center with any necessary experience;
1-54     and
1-55                 (2)  conduct research programs related to:
1-56                       (A)  areas in which education or outreach
1-57     programs are provided by the center; or
1-58                       (B)  public health issues arising in or prevalent
1-59     in the area served by the center.
1-60           Sec. 86.986.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  The board may solicit,
1-61     accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
1-62     person or entity for the use and benefit of the center.
1-63           Sec. 86.987.  COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION.  The center is
1-64     subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Higher Education
 2-1     Coordinating Board under Chapter 61 and to the rules of the
 2-2     coordinating board adopted under Chapter 61.
 2-3           Sec. 86.988.  IMPLEMENTATION OF CENTER.  (a)  The board is
 2-4     required to implement the center only if the legislature
 2-5     appropriates money specifically for that purpose.
 2-6           (b)  This section expires on the last day of the first state
 2-7     fiscal year for which an appropriation is specifically made to
 2-8     implement the center.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  If the 77th Legislature specifically appropriates
2-10     money for the implementation of The Texas A&M University System
2-11     Health Science Center South Texas Center for Rural Public Health,
2-12     the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System shall
2-13     establish and operate the center as provided by Subchapter G,
2-14     Chapter 86, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
2-15     January 1 of the first state fiscal year for which the
2-16     appropriation is made.
2-17           SECTION 3.  Not later than August 31, 2002, the Texas Higher
2-18     Education Coordinating Board shall prepare an impact statement
2-19     examining the initial implementation of this Act and shall deliver
2-20     a copy of the statement to the board of regents of The Texas A&M
2-21     University System and to the chairs of the standing committees of
2-22     each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
2-23     education.
2-24           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-25                                  * * * * *