BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 1020
By: Rodriguez
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Recent reports indicate that there is an inadequate supply of dental health care professionals in southern and western parts of the state. Interested parties contend that establishing a dental school in a large urban area in west Texas, such as El Paso, that offers degrees in dental hygiene, dentistry, and advanced dentistry would increase access to dental care and improve health outcomes and quality of life for residents in those parts of Texas. S.B. 1020 seeks to address this need by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a feasibility study regarding the establishment of a dental school at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center at El Paso.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0666, as follows:
Sec. 61.0666. STUDY REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF DENTAL SCHOOL; EL PASO. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study to examine the need for and feasibility of establishing a dental school in El Paso as a component of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Requires THECB to consult with the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System in conducting the study.
(b) Requires THECB, not later than November 1, 2012, to report the results of the study required by this section to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education.
(c) Provides that this section expires January 31, 2013.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2011.