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 * * * * *