S.B. No. 884

AN ACT

relating to the management and operation by The University of Texas System of a multi-institution center in the city of Laredo.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter M, Chapter 74, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM MULTI-INSTITUTION [HEALTH

SCIENCE] CENTER IN LAREDO [AT SAN ANTONIO CAMPUS EXTENSION]

SECTION 2. Section 74.701, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 74.701. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH CENTER [CAMPUS EXTENSION]. The board of regents of The University of Texas System shall establish and operate a multi-institution center [campus extension of The University of Texas Health Science Center at 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 [campus extension]; and

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

SECTION 3. Section 74.702, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 74.702. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF CENTER [CAMPUS EXTENSION]. (a) The board of regents may exercise any power granted to the board under Subchapter D in establishing and operating the center [campus extension].

(b) The board of regents may [shall] assign responsibility for management of the center to a component institution of the system [campus extension to The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio].

(c) The operating costs of the center [campus extension] shall be paid from [the operating funds of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for that purpose and from] available funds from any public or private entity.

(d) The primary purpose of the center [campus extension] is to host [support] educational activities, conduct and facilitate research, and engage in community outreach. Component institutions of the system may use the center in accordance with its primary purpose [The campus extension may be used] to provide undergraduate and graduate medical and dental education, including residency training programs, and other levels of health education work in collaboration with any public institution of higher education considered appropriate by the board of regents [Texas A&M International University or any component institution of The Texas A&M University System or The University of Texas System].

SECTION 4. Section 74.703, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 74.703. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board of regents may accept and administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or entity for the use and benefit of the center [campus extension], including accepting and administering gifts and grants of land and physical facilities.

SECTION 5. Section 74.704(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The physical facilities of the center [campus extension] used in teaching and research programs, including libraries, auditoriums, research facilities, and health education buildings, may be provided by a public or private entity. The board of regents may [is authorized to] lease the facilities that are to be used as the physical facilities of the center [campus extension].

SECTION 6. Section 63.102(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The amount available for distribution from each fund may be appropriated only for research and other programs that are conducted by the institution or components for which the fund is established and that benefit the public health. The comptroller or the governing board shall report to the legislature the amount of funds that are eligible for appropriation. An amount appropriated from the fund established for The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio may be used to establish, maintain, and operate a children's cancer center. An amount appropriated from the funds established for the component institutions of The University of Texas System may be used to maintain, operate, and conduct health education programs and other related work at the system's multi-institution center [and the campus extension] in the city of Laredo. An amount appropriated from the funds established for the components of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center located in El Paso and for The University of Texas at El Paso may be used for the establishment and operation of an institute of public health in El Paso. An amount appropriated from the fund established for the components of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at locations other than El Paso may be used for research and other programs that benefit the public health in areas outside El Paso. An amount appropriated from the fund established for The Texas A&M University Health Science Center may be used for the establishment and operation of the Coastal Bend Health Education Center in Corpus Christi.

SECTION 7. Section 74.705, Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 884 passed the Senate on March 31, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 884 passed the House on May 18, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 121, Nays 22, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor