The House overwhelmingly approved a compromise bill Friday that would create a new University of Texas institution in the Rio Grande Valley ? an apparent slam dunk for a proposal that had sailed smoothly at the session's start only to become mired in legislative infighting last week over the future medical school's location.
Some feared disagreement between Hidalgo and Cameron county lawmakers would derail the proposal to combine UT-Pan American in Edinburg, UT-Brownsville and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio's regional campus in South Texas.
But delegates hashed out a compromise, which Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Harlingen, offered as an amendment to Senate Bill 24 on Friday.
?Like any family, we have squabbles and, like any family, we unite,? said Rep. Ren? Oliveira, D-Brownsville.
The House voted 136-0 to approve new version, which requires a third reading and vote before it can be sent to the Senate.
Last week, Oliveira said he felt betrayed after Sen. Juan ?Chuy? Hinojosa, D-McAllen substituted language in a similar bill to changed a regional agreement to let UT regents decide the medical school's location with the advice of a panel of experts.
Instead, it required the first two years of medical school in Hidalgo County and the second two in Cameron County.
The Senate approved that version, called House Bill 1000, on Thursday.
Oliveira said the compromise, in the form of an amendment to Senate Bill 24, was proposed by UT System officials. It places offices overseeing undergraduate medical education in Hidalgo County and offices overseeing graduate medical education in Cameron County.
It requires the board to ensure that the first two years of medical school are primarily in Hidalgo County and the second two in Cameron County.
It also stipulates that medical education programs take advantage of the existing facilities at UTPA, UTB and the regional academic health center with facilities in Harlingen and Edinburg. Graduate medical education would occur throughout the region.
Once the bill reaches the Senate, members could concur with the changes and send the bill to Gov. Rick Perry for approval. Staffers in the offices of Hinojosa and Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, said they expect that to happen. Perry already has announced his support for the university's creation.
The proposal, which requires two-thirds approval of each chamber, would make the new school eligible for money from a public endowment called the Permanent University Fund.
UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa has estimated it eventually could enroll 29,000 students and could become among ?the largest Hispanic institution in America as it relates to undergraduate Hispanic students.?
Oliveira said the new university also could create or retain up to 10,000 jobs with an average salary of $63,000.
jlloyd@express-news.net
Twitter: @jlloydster
Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Valley-UT-compromise-gets-House-nod-4526416.php
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