78R2045 YDB-D

By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 462



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an asthma research center at the 
Texas Tech University campus in El Paso.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 110, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Section 110.151 to read as follows:
	Sec. 110.151.  TEXAS TECH ASTHMA RESEARCH CENTER.  (a)  In 
this section:
		(1)  "Board" means the board of regents of the Texas 
Tech University System.
		(2)  "Center" means the Texas Tech Asthma Research 
Center.           
	(b)  The board shall establish the Texas Tech Asthma Research 
Center.  The center shall operate in collaboration with The 
University of Texas at El Paso and the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality.
	(c)  The center shall conduct research related to:                      
		(1)  asthma; and                                                       
		(2)  conditions associated with that disease, 
including health problems associated with industrial pollution and 
other environmental contamination in this state in the region 
adjacent to the United Mexican States.
	(d)  The center shall:                                                  
		(1)  collaborate with the Texas Department of Health to 
develop a standard definition of asthma and to identify entities to 
collect and report asthma and related health data to the center;
		(2)  study asthma and related health problems 
associated with industrial pollution and environmental 
contamination in this state at international bridge crossings and 
state or federal industrial cleanup sites in the region adjacent to 
the United Mexican States;
		(3)  investigate the areas in this state that are 
identified as having abnormally high incidence of asthma and 
related health problems;
		(4)  study the impact of air and soil quality on the 
health of the residents of this state in the region adjacent to the 
United Mexican States; and
		(5)  study the impact of motor vehicle traffic on the 
health of the residents of this state in the region adjacent to the 
United Mexican States.
	(e)  The center shall develop a 10-year strategic plan to 
guide and evaluate the center's progress toward achieving the 
purposes of the center in accordance with this section, 
particularly with respect to the region adjacent to the United 
Mexican States.  The strategic plan must:
		(1)  describe the goals, objectives, and performance 
standards for each of the center's programs and how those programs 
help the center to achieve its purposes;
		(2)  recommend guidelines on air quality and air 
pollution standards in relation to health issues and the monitoring 
and compliance necessary to enforce the guidelines;
		(3)  recommend preventative and corrective steps to 
reduce or eliminate adverse health effects identified in the study;
		(4)  assess the needs of the center's programs and 
faculty; and      
		(5)  assess the center's need for new initiatives.                     
	(f)  The center shall update the strategic plan required by 
Subsection (e) at least every two years.  Not later than December 15 
of each even-numbered year, the board shall submit to the 
legislature a report concerning the strategic plan, including any 
recommendations for legislative action.
	(g)  The organization, control, and management of the center 
are vested in the board.
	(h)  The employment of personnel by and the operating budget 
of the center are subject to board approval.  An employee of the 
center is an employee of the Texas Tech University System.
	(i)  The board shall 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)  The center may enter into an agreement or may cooperate 
with a public or private entity to perform the research functions of 
the center.
	(k)  The board may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and 
grants from any public or private source for the use and benefit of 
the center.
	SECTION 2.  The board of regents of the Texas Tech University 
System shall establish the Texas Tech Asthma Research Center as 
provided by Section 110.151, Education Code, as added by this Act, 
not later than January 1, 2005.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.