S.B. No. 1526
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. Subsection (b), Section 151.002, 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. Subsection (a), Section 151.003, 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. Subsection (d), Section 151.004, and Sections
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1526 passed the Senate on
April 2, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2009, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1526 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 145,
Nays 0, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor