HBA-CBW C.S.H.B. 2510 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2510
By: Chavez
Higher Education
4/19/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to the American Diabetes Association, 15.7 million Americans, or
5.9 percent of the country's population have diabetes. The  Texas
Department of Health estimates that, in 1998, 1.6 million Texans or 12
percent of the state's population had diabetes.  Based on Texas death
certificate data, diabetes contributed to 12,299 deaths in 1996 and was the
sixth leading cause of death listed on Texas death certificates.  Many
people first become aware of the devastating effects of diabetes when they
develop such complications as blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage,
heart disease, and stroke. Many of the components associated with the
disease are unknown and need further research. C.S.H.B.  2510 requires the
board of regents of the Texas Tech University System to establish the Texas
Tech Diabetes Research Center for the purposes of researching diabetes and
other related factors associated with the disease. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2510 amends the Education Code to require the board of regents of
the Texas Tech University System (board) to establish, not later than
January 1, 2003,  the Texas Tech Diabetes Research Center (center) for the
purposes of researching issues related to diabetes and conditions
associated with the disease.  The bill provides that the organization,
control, and management of the center are  vested in the board.  The bill
requires the board to approve the employment of personnel by and the
operating budget of the center, and provides that an employee of the center
is an employee of Texas Tech University System. The board is  required to
select a site for the center at the regional academic health center of the
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center  located in El Paso.  The bill
authorizes the center to enter into an agreement or cooperate with a public
or private entity to perform the research functions of the center. 

The bill authorizes the board to solicit, accept, and administer gifts and
grants from any public or private source for the use and benefit of the
center.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2510 differs from the original bill by providing that the
definition of  "center" means  the Texas Tech Diabetes Research Center
(center),  rather than the Texas Diabetes Research Center.  The substitute
provides that an employee of the center is an employee of the Texas Tech
University System, rather than an employee of Texas Tech University.  The
substitute specifies that the center will be located at the regional
academic health center of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
in El Paso.  The substitute removes the provision that provides that the
center is subject to the rules and supervision of the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.