HBA-CBW H.B. 2510 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2510 By: Chavez Higher Education 3/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to the American Diabetes Association, 15.7 million people or 5.9 percent of the population of the United States 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. House Bill 2510 requires the board of regents of the Texas Tech University System to establish the Texas Diabetes Research Center for the purpose 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 House Bill 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 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 is 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. The board is required to select a site for the center at the El Paso campus of Texas Tech University. 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 and provides that the center is subject to the rules and supervision of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.