BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 81

79R227 JSA-D                                                                                                             By: Shapleigh

                                                                                                                    S/C on Higher Education

2/14/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is currently expanding into a full, four-year medical school program.  The University of Texas El Paso has many programs related to allied health services.  Sharing biological and biomedical resources between these institutions as it relates to biomedical education, training, and research may provide a bridge from undergraduate to graduate work for life sciences students.  As proposed, S.B. 81 allows the board of regents for these institutions to enter joint partnerships and to develop joint degree programs and joint research programs. 

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 110.17, as follows:

            Sec. 110.17. JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO. (a) Authorizes the board of regents of Texas Tech University and the board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish and maintain a joint partnership between the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and The University of Texas at El Paso.  Provides that the governance of the partnership is determined by agreement between the boards of regents of the participating institutions.  Authorizes the boards of regents by agreement to designate the official name of the partnership.  

            (b) Requires the partnership to develop joint degree and joint research programs as the boards of regents of the participating institutions consider appropriate to efficiently use the resources of both institutions in El Paso County.  Authorizes the participating institutions to make joint appointments of faculty or other personnel, to either or to both institutions of the partnership.  Requires the salary of a person receiving a joint appointment to be apportioned between the institutions on the basis of services rendered. 

            (c) Authorizes the costs of operation of the partnership to be paid from money appropriated for that purpose or from other public or private money.  Requires the partnership to retain all indirect costs received or recovered under a grant or contract. 

            (d) Authorizes the partnership to accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the partnership's programs.  Requires the partnership to seek certain funding sources. 

            (e) Authorizes the activities of the partnership to be located in facilities determined by the boards of regents, including facilities of a participating institution.  Authorizes the partnership to acquire, develop, or use land, buildings, equipment, facilities, or other improvements for use in connection with the partnership's programs.        

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 69, Education Code, by adding Section 69.23, as follows:

            Sec. 69.23. JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER.  Provides that the board of regents of The University of Texas System has the powers and duties provide by Section 110.17. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.