SRC-JEC, MSY S.B. 462 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 462
78R2045 YDB-DBy: Shapleigh
Subcommittee on Higher Education
4/17/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not provide for an asthma research center that addresses
the challenges of asthma generally and, more specifically, the unique
problems faced by asthma sufferers in the region bordering Mexico.  As
proposed, S.B. 462  establishes an asthma research center at the Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, and charges the center
with responsibility for conducting research on asthma with an emphasis on
asthma-related issues arising from the polluted air found along the
Texas-Mexico border. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 110, Education Code, by adding Section 110.151,
as follows: 

Sec.  110.151.  TEXAS TECH ASTHMA RESEARCH CENTER.  (a)  Defines "board"
and "center." 

(b)  Requires the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System
(board) to establish the Texas Tech Asthma Research Center (center).
Requires the center to operate in collaboration with The University of
Texas at El Paso and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

(c)  Requires the center to conduct research related to asthma and
conditions associated with that disease, including certain health problems
associated with industrial pollution and environmental contamination. 

(d)  Requires the center to undertake certain specified tasks and conduct
certain specified studies. 

(e)  Requires the center to develop a 10-year plan to guide and evaluate
the center's progress toward achieving the purposes of the center in
accordance with this section. Requires the plan to include certain items. 

(f)  Requires the center to update the plan required by Subsection (e) at
least every two years, and to submit to the legislature a report
concerning the plan by December 15 of each even-numbered year. 

(g)  Provides that the organization, control, and management of the center
are vested in the board. 

(h)  Provides that the employment of personnel by and the operating budget
of the  center are subject to board approval.  Provides that an employee
of the center is an employee of the Texas Tech University System. 

(i)  Requires the board to select a site for the center at the regional
academic health center of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
located in El Paso. 

(j)  Authorizes the center to enter into an agreement or cooperate with a
public or private entity to perform the research functions of the center. 

(k)  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. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the board to establish the center as provided by
Section 110.151, Education Code, as added by this Act, by January 1, 2005. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.