BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1913

By: Geren

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is the object of unnecessary restrictions with regard to its operations. H.B. 1913 seeks to remedy this situation by addressing the required qualifications for serving as president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and the prohibition against the award of certain degrees by the board of regents of the University of North Texas System.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1913 amends the Education Code to remove the requirement that the president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth be a licensed physician who possesses a doctor of osteopathy degree from an accredited college of osteopathic medicine and has been licensed to practice medicine in a state of the United States for at least five years. The bill repeals the prohibition against the board of regents of the University of North Texas System awarding an M.D. degree.

H.B. 1913 repeals Section 105.402, Education Code. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.