78R3621 JSA-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1586
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a health science center and medical school
in the Rio Grande Valley.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 74, Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER L. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER--
[LOWER] RIO GRANDE VALLEY [ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER]
Sec. 74.611. HEALTH SCIENCE [AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR
PARTICIPATE IN] CENTER. (a) The board of regents of The University
of Texas System shall operate The University of Texas Health
Science Center--Rio Grande Valley as a component institution of The
University of Texas System with its main campus and administrative
offices in the Harlingen metropolitan area. The health science
center consists of a medical school, other health and
health-related degree programs, and related programs and
facilities as the board considers appropriate.
(b) The board of regents may include facilities located in
[may establish a regional academic health center serving] Cameron,
Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties in the health science center
[,] and may operate programs and activities and provide related
services of the center [include any medical institutions for
participation in the program] in those [the aforementioned]
counties [, if general revenue funds are specifically appropriated
by the legislature for that purpose. The center may consist of
facilities located throughout the region].
Sec. 74.612. COURSES AND DEGREES; RULES. The board of
regents may prescribe courses leading to customary degrees and may
adopt rules for the operation, control, and management of the
health science center as may be necessary for the conduct of a
medical school and other health science center programs of the
first class.
Sec. 74.613. AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS; JOINT APPOINTMENTS.
(a) The board of regents may execute and carry out affiliation or
coordination agreements with any other entity or institution in the
region to [establish or to] participate in the health science
center [establishment or operation of the center, which includes
all traditional and all other providers of health services to the
counties listed in this subsection].
(b) The board of regents may make joint appointments in the
health science center and other institutions under the board's
governance. The salary of a person who receives a joint appointment
shall be apportioned to the appointing institutions on the basis of
services rendered.
[(b) The board of regents may assign responsibility for the
management of the regional academic health center to any component
institution or institutions of The University of Texas System. The
operating costs of the regional academic health center shall be
paid from operating funds of the component institution and from
available funds of any other public or private entity.
[(c) The regional academic health center may be used to
provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education,
including residency training programs, or other levels of medical
education work in the counties identified in Subsection (a) in
connection with any component institution or institutions of The
University of Texas System as the board of regents determines
appropriate.]
Sec. 74.614 [74.612]. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board of
regents may accept and administer gifts and grants from any public
or private person or entity for the use and benefit of the [regional
academic] health science center.
Sec. 74.615 [74.613]. OTHER FACILITIES. In addition to the
facilities of the health science center, the board of regents may
enter into agreements under which additional [The physical]
facilities [of the regional academic health center] used in the
center's [its] teaching and research programs, including
libraries, auditoriums, research facilities, and medical education
buildings, may be provided by a public or private entity. [A
physical facility may be constructed, maintained, or operated with
state money appropriated for that purpose.]
Sec. 74.616 [74.614]. TEACHING HOSPITAL. A teaching
hospital considered suitable by the board of regents for the health
science center may be provided by a public or private entity. The
hospital may not be constructed, maintained, or operated with state
funds.
Sec. 74.617 [74.615]. COORDINATING BOARD SUPERVISION. The
[regional academic] health science center is subject to the
continuing supervision of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board under Chapter 61 and to the rules of the coordinating board
adopted under Chapter 61.
SECTION 2. Section 51.949(a), Education Code, as added by
Chapter 1293, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) In this section, "eligible area" means the area served
by The University of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley
and its programs and facilities [the regional academic health
center] established under Section 74.611.
SECTION 3. Section 55.1732, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) Bonds authorized or issued under this section for the
regional academic health center established under Section 74.611
are considered to have been authorized or issued for The University
of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley when that
institution is established.
SECTION 4. Section 61.003(5), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(5) "Medical and dental unit" means The University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; The University of Texas
Medical School at San Antonio; The University of Texas Dental
Branch at Houston; The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences at Houston; The University of Texas Dental School at San
Antonio; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston; The
University of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley; the
nursing institutions of The University of Texas System; and The
University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston; and such
other medical or dental schools as may be established by statute or
as provided in this chapter.
SECTION 5. Section 63.002(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The amount available for distribution from the fund may
be appropriated only for programs that benefit medical research,
health education, or treatment programs at the following
health-related institutions of higher education:
(1) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio;
(2) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center;
(3) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas;
(4) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston;
(5) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston;
(6) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Tyler;
(7) The University of Texas Health Science Center--Rio
Grande Valley;
(8) The Texas A&M University Health Science Center;
(9) [(8)] the University of North Texas Health Science
Center at Fort Worth;
(10) [(9)] the Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center; and
(11) [(10)] Baylor College of Medicine, if a contract
between Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board is in effect under Section 61.092.
SECTION 6. Section 63.101(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A separate permanent endowment fund is established for
the benefit of each of the following institutions of higher
education:
(1) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio;
(2) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center;
(3) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas;
(4) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston;
(5) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston;
(6) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Tyler;
(7) The University of Texas at El Paso;
(8) The Texas A&M University Health Science Center;
(9) the University of North Texas Health Science
Center at Fort Worth;
(10) the components of the Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center located in El Paso;
(11) the components of the Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center at locations other than El Paso;
(12) The University of Texas Health Science
Center--Rio Grande Valley [the regional academic health center
established under Section 74.611]; and
(13) Baylor College of Medicine, if a contract between
Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board is in effect under Section 61.092.
SECTION 7. Section 65.02(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The University of Texas System is composed of the
following institutions and entities:
(1) The University of Texas at Arlington, including:
(A) The University of Texas Institute of Urban
Studies at Arlington; and
(B) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
Arlington;
(2) The University of Texas at Austin, including:
(A) The University of Texas Marine Science
Institute;
(B) The University of Texas McDonald Observatory
at Mount Locke; and
(C) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
Austin;
(3) The University of Texas at Dallas;
(4) The University of Texas at El Paso, including The
University of Texas School of Nursing at El Paso;
(5) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin;
(6) The University of Texas at San Antonio, including
the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio;
(7) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas, including:
(A) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
School at Dallas;
(B) The University of Texas Southwestern
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Dallas; and
(C) The University of Texas Southwestern Allied
Health Sciences School at Dallas;
(8) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston, including:
(A) The University of Texas Medical School at
Galveston;
(B) The University of Texas Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences at Galveston;
(C) The University of Texas School of Allied
Health Sciences at Galveston;
(D) The University of Texas Marine Biomedical
Institute at Galveston;
(E) The University of Texas Hospitals at
Galveston; and
(F) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
Galveston;
(9) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston, including:
(A) The University of Texas Medical School at
Houston;
(B) The University of Texas Dental Branch at
Houston;
(C) The University of Texas Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences at Houston;
(D) The University of Texas School of Health
Information Sciences at Houston;
(E) The University of Texas School of Public
Health at Houston;
(F) The University of Texas Speech and Hearing
Institute at Houston; and
(G) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
Houston;
(10) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio, including:
(A) The University of Texas Medical School at San
Antonio;
(B) The University of Texas Dental School at San
Antonio;
(C) The University of Texas Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio;
(D) The University of Texas School of Allied
Health Sciences at San Antonio; and
(E) The University of Texas School of Nursing at
San Antonio;
(11) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center, including:
(A) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Hospital;
(B) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Tumor
Institute; and
(C) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Science Park; and
(12) The University of Texas Health Science
Center--Rio Grande Valley.
SECTION 8. (a) The board of regents of The University of
Texas System shall convert the regional academic health center
established under Subchapter L, Chapter 74, Education Code, as that
subchapter existed before the effective date of this Act, into The
University of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley and
establish a medical school at the health science center after this
Act takes effect as soon as the board considers appropriate
considering available resources and the best interests of The
University of Texas System and the people of this state and the
Lower Rio Grande Valley, but not later than the 2005-2006 academic
year. In establishing the health science center and medical
school, the board of regents shall ensure that the existing
programs, students, and faculty and staff of the regional academic
health center are not affected other than as the board considers
necessary to implement this Act.
(b) It is the intent of the legislature that The University
of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley be established by
conversion of the regional academic health center established under
Subchapter L, Chapter 74, Education Code, as that subchapter
existed before the effective date of this Act, and that those
entities be considered to be the same institution. A reference in
law to the regional academic health center applies to The
University of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley to the
extent it can be made applicable. All contracts and agreements,
including bonds and other financial obligations, entered into by
The University of Texas System or any of its officers or employees
relating to the regional academic health center apply to The
University of Texas Health Science Center--Rio Grande Valley when
the health science center is established.
(c) The permanent endowment fund established under Section
63.101, Education Code, for the benefit of the regional academic
health center established under Subchapter L, Chapter 74, Education
Code, as that subchapter existed before the effective date of this
Act, is transferred to the benefit of The University of Texas Health
Science Center--Rio Grande Valley when the health science center is
established. It is the intent of the legislature that the transfer
of the endowment fund be made so as not to interrupt the research or
other programs supported by distributions from the fund.
SECTION 9. 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.