AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN CENTER.

(a) The board of regents of The University of Texas System may establish a regional academic health center serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties, and may include any medical institutions for participation in the program in the aforementioned counties, if general revenue funds are specifically appropriated by the legislature for that purpose. The center may consist of facilities located throughout the region. The board may execute and carry out affiliation or coordination agreements with any other entity or institution in the region to establish or to participate in the establishment or operation of the center, which includes all traditional and all other providers of health services to the counties listed in this subsection.

(b) The board of regents may assign responsibility for the management of the regional academic health center to any component institution or institutions of The University of Texas System. The operating costs of the regional academic health center shall be paid from operating funds of the component institution and from available funds of any other public or private entity.

(c) The regional academic health center may be used to provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education, including residency training programs, or other levels of medical education work in the counties identified in Subsection (a) in connection with any component institution or institutions of The University of Texas System as the board of regents determines appropriate.