Gov. Rick Perry signed a Senate Bill 120, Monday, establishing Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) at El Paso as an independent university effective 2015, within the Texas Tech University System.

The Bill was authored by state Sen. José Rodríguez and sponsored by state Rep. Naomi Gonzalez.

"This is a great victory for District 76 and the El Paso region," Gonzalez said. "Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso as a stand-alone university will help address the specific needs of the population along the El Paso border. The stand-alone will improve access and quality of health care for the El Paso community and region."

TTUHSC will now have its own president and management with degree-awarding powers. They will majorly interact with the local community while making crucial hiring and funding decisions.

And their research projects will be centered on diseases affecting Latinos and border populations.

This free-standing university will play a key role in boosting the city's economy by expanding medical, research, education and employment services.

Rodriguez said that the university will majorly help expand healthcare access by attracting more doctors and healthcare professionals to the region; foster the community's educational and economic development strategies; introduce more administrative jobs and increase higher education opportunities within the community.

The university will now be entitled for federal Health Education Assistance Funds.

Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., has been chosen as interim president of TTUHSC at El Paso. Currently, he heads the TTUHSC campus in Lubbock. Along with El Paso, Mitchell will continue to supervise the operations at Lubbock, Dallas, Amarillo, Abilene, Midland and the Permian Basin as well.

Texas Tech officials said that a nationwide search will be initiated to select the first permanent president of TTUHSC at El Paso.

The Texas Tech University System now features four schools including The El Paso medical school along with Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock and Angelo State University.