Subject to availability of funds, the department shall establish a public health consortium composed of:
(1) The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio;
(2) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center;
(3) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center;
(4) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;
(5) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston;
(6) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler;
(7) the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;
(8) The Texas A&M University Health Science Center;
(9) the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth; and
(10) any other public institution of higher education that elects to participate in the consortium.