HSC §11789: (a) The department shall be a central information resource on alcohol and other drug use prevention and treatment programs and on research projects with respect to alcohol and other drug use.

(a) The department shall be a central information resource on alcohol and other drug use prevention and treatment programs and on research projects with respect to alcohol and other drug use. (b) The department shall collect, and act as an information exchange for, information on research and service projects completed or in progress relating to alcohol and other drug use, provide, to any person, institution, or public agency proposing any research or service project on that subject, information with respect to the areas in which research is needed, and evaluate programs of research, treatment, and education with respect to alcohol and other drug use. (c) A state agency shall not conduct a research or service project on alcohol and other drug problems, including substance use disorders, until it has provided the department with a description of its proposed project and until the department has responded with a written description of how the research or service project relates with other completed, concurrently operating, or pending research or service projects. If the department fails to provide the agency with the written description within 60 days from the date of receipt of the proposed project, the state agency may proceed to conduct the research or service project as described in the agency’s proposal.