81R26590 KJM-D

By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 1526

Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1526:

By: Moody C.S.S.B. No. 1526

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the composition, administration, and duties, including reporting requirements, of the Border Health Institute.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 151.002(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The institute shall operate in a manner that facilitates and assists the activities of international, national, regional, or local health-related institutions working in the Texas-Mexico border region [to:

[(1) create and fund centers or component units within the institute to facilitate research in fields of study affecting public health in the border region, including research related to diabetes, Hispanic health issues, infectious diseases, emerging infections, environmental health issues, and children's health issues;

[(2) deliver health care or provide health education to persons living in the border region; and

[(3) conduct and facilitate research in fields of study affecting public health in the border region, including research related to diabetes, Hispanic health issues, infectious diseases, emerging infections, environmental health issues, and children's health issues].

SECTION 2. Section 151.003(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Subject to Subsection (b), the [The] institute is [initially] composed of the following institutions:

(1) The University of Texas at El Paso;

(2) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso;

(3) El Paso Community College District;

(4) R. E. Thomason General Hospital;

(5) El Paso City/County Health District;

(6) Department of State Health Services; and

(7) Medical Center of the Americas Foundation [The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health;

[(7) El Paso County Medical Society;

[(8) Paso del Norte Health Foundation; and

[(9) the Texas Department of Health].

SECTION 3. Section 151.008, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 151.008. BIENNIAL [ANNUAL] REPORTING. (a) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered [Each] year, each member of the institute shall provide a long-term strategic plan for that member to:

(1) each member of the governing board of the institute;

(2) [and to] each member of the legislature whose district includes any portion of a county where the Border Health Institute is established or operating; and

(3) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [an annual audited financial statement and a status report of each project undertaken by the institute].

(b) The long-term strategic plan for each member must include a statement of the member's goals and objectives for:

(1) providing health care services to persons living in the border region;

(2) providing health care education to persons living in the border region; and

(3) conducting research into issues affecting public health in the border region, including research related to:

(A) diabetes;

(B) health issues of particular concern to persons of Hispanic descent;

(C) infectious diseases;

(D) emerging infections;

(E) trauma care;

(F) environmental health; and

(G) children's health.

SECTION 4. Sections 151.004(d), 151.006, 151.007, and 151.010, Education Code, are repealed.

SECTION 5. 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, 2009.