2023S0230-2 03/02/23 By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1838 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the creation of the Alzheimer's Research Collaborative of Texas. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 102, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 102.157 to read as follows: Sec. 102.157. OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES. (a) In this section: (1) "Committee" means the Oversight Committee for Neurodegenerative Diseases. (2) "Nationally designated" means a designation from the National Institute on Aging. (3) "Research collaborative" means the Alzheimer's Research Collaborative of Texas. (b) The Oversight Committee for Neurodegenerative Diseases is the governing body of the Alzheimer's Research Collaborative of Texas. The committee is composed of the following eight members: (1) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and (2) four members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. (c) In making appointments to the committee, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives must each appoint: (1) three members who are physicians or scientists with extensive experience in the field of Alzheimer's disease and neurology; and (2) one member of the public. (d) From each group of appointees under Subsection (c)(1), one appointee must represent a nationally designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and shall serve as co-chair of the committee. (e) A member of the committee serves at the will of the official who appointed the member. (f) The research collaborative is established to support Alzheimer's disease research described by Subsection (h). The committee shall oversee the review processes and related procedures of the collaborative. (g) The committee shall establish standards and hire personnel as necessary to ensure the proper use of funds authorized for Alzheimer's disease research, facilities development, and caregiver resources consistent with the powers and duties described under Section 102.051. (h) The committee shall establish criteria for the research collaborative to support institutions of learning and advanced medical research facilities and collaborations in this state in all stages of finding the causes of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases in humans and developing cures, from laboratory research to clinical trials, including programs to address the problem of access to advanced treatment for Alzheimer's disease. (i) The committee shall establish criteria for prioritizing its review of applications for grants to: (1) academic medical centers; (2) medical research facilities; and (3) collaborations with a nationally designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.