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
______________________________
Governor