The Texas Senate passed two measures to establish and fund a dementia research entity in Texas.
In a 30-1 vote, the Senate approved SB 5 and SJR 3 on March 5 to create and fund the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT). The bill and its companion joint resolution are intended to create the “largest brain health research center in America,” according to a Texas Senate News press release.
The dementia institute would follow a model similar to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRIT), which was created by the Texas legislature in 2009 and is now the largest cancer research organization in the country and the second-largest in the world.
“I believe that DPRIT will follow this success and position Texas as a national leader in combating dementia and related disorders, accelerating groundbreaking research, and improving the lives of millions of Texans,” said Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston), the author of the bill and resolution.
According to the details outlined in the bill, DPRIT would be governed by an oversight committee whose nine members are appointed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the Speaker of the House. The oversight committee would be tasked with assembling a peer review committee of experts in the fields related to dementia or related disorders. Other committees designated in the bill include a program integration committee and a higher education advisory committee.
The institute would award “grants for projects addressing the causes, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of dementia patients, as well as new medicines and facilities to help treat sufferers,” per the press release. The bill and accompanying resolution would funnel $3 billion in surplus general revenue over the next 10 years to the institute “in an attempt to draw the best and brightest physicians, researchers, and experts in the field of dementia to Texas.”
The concept was reportedly the idea of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and the bill’s passage was listed as one of his top 5 priorities for the current legislative session.
“Unlike any other state, really, we do have the wherewithal sometimes to do great, big things that impact everybody,” Patrick told members of the Senate. “Of the surplus dollars we have…it seems like it could be the best money that we are spending.”
Patrick issued his own press release on March 5, emphasizing the need for the research institute.
“Currently, over 500,000 Texans suffer from some form of Dementia, including horrible diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia, and related dementias. Dementia affects more than just the afflicted, it impacts entire Texas families,” Patrick said.
“After hearing countless stories of Texans whose lives were shattered by this silent killer, I felt it was time to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) to bring world-class Dementia researchers to our state. Texas, with our vast resources, has an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of millions,” he added.
However, before the bill can become law, it must be passed in the House, signed by the governor, and approved by Texas voters at the ballot box in November. Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) will take the next step in the process by presenting the companion bill (HB 5) and resolution (HJR 3) to the Texas House for consideration.
Texas Senator Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) cast the sole dissenting vote on the two measures on Wednesday, citing fiscal concerns.
“My vote is not a vote of no support, it’s just a vote of recognizing that maybe we need to recognize other things as government. And it concerns me as we add some of these on,” Hanckock said.
Similarly, Texas Policy Research opposed the creation of DPRIT, describing it as “a costly overreach in the wrong direction.”
“While dementia research is an important issue and affects a large number of Texans and their families, this legislation creates yet another bloated bureaucracy. … Texas is already home to world-class research institutions and medical centers, funded through private investment, universities, and nonprofits. Yet, SB 5 and HB 5 seek to insert the state government into an area where it has no rightful place,” TPR argued on its website.
The article noted that the previously mentioned CPRIT was “embroiled in scandal and mismanagement from the start. Instead of learning from past mistakes, lawmakers are doubling down on a proven formula for government waste, inefficiency, and cronyism.”