BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 884
	By: Zaffirini
	Higher Education
	3/17/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Regional Campus at Laredo (RCL) is a satellite campus operated by The University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC-San Antonio) to provide health education, conduct research, and perform critical outreach in one of the most medically underserved communities in Texas. Throughout its 20-plus year history, however, the campus has been underutilized, an issue that stems from volatile programming, insufficient funding, and inconsistent prioritization.

A detailed review of the campus during 2019-20 by the UT System found that the campus could better accomplish its mission as a multi-institution center operated at the system level, at which not only UTHSC-San Antonio but also other UT System and even Texas A&M University System institutions could host educational, clinical, and research-based programs.

S.B. 884 would formalize this process by re-establishing the RCL as a multi-institution center operated by the UT System and transferring management and funding responsibilities for the center from UTHSC-San Antonio to the UT System.

As proposed, S.B. 884 amends current law relating to the management and operation of a multi-institution health education center in the City of Laredo.

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 the heading to Subchapter M, Chapter 74, Education Code, to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM MULTI-INSTITUTION CENTER

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 74.701-74.704, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 74.701. New heading: AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH CENTER. Requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System to establish and operate a multi‑institution center, rather than to establish and operate a campus extension of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC-San Antonio), in the city of Laredo if:

(1) a public or private entity offers the board of regents sufficient land in that city to construct a center, rather a campus extension; and

(2) public or private entities agree to provide funds necessary to construct an administrative building for the center, rather than for the campus extension.

Sec. 74.702. New heading: MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF CENTER. (a) Authorizes the board of regents to exercise any power granted to the board under Subchapter D (The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio) in establishing and operating the center, rather than in establishing and operating the campus extension.

(b) Provides that the board of regents shall may assign responsibility for management of the center to an institution of higher education. Deletes existing text providing that the board of regents shall may assign responsibility for management of the campus extension to UTHSC-San Antonio an institution of higher education.

(c) Requires that the operating costs of the center be paid from available funds from any public or private entity. Deletes existing text requiring that the operating costs of the campus extension be paid from the operating funds of UTHSC-San Antonio for that purpose and from available funds from any public or private entity.

Sec. 74.703. GIFTS AND GRANTS. Makes conforming changes.

Sec. 74.704. FACILITIES. Makes conforming changes to this section.

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 74.705 (Coordinating Board Supervision), Education Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.