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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of the governor's university |
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research initiative. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.161(1), Education Code, as added by |
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Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows: |
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(1) "Distinguished researcher" means: |
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(A) an individual [a] researcher who [is]: |
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(i) is [(A)] a Nobel laureate; [or] |
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(ii) is [(B)] a member of the National |
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Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, or the |
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National Academy of Medicine, formerly known as the Institute of |
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Medicine; or |
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(iii) has attained a highly prestigious |
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national academic recognition, as defined by office rule; or |
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(B) a group of researchers who have attained |
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recognition as defined by office rule described by Paragraph |
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(A)(iii). |
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SECTION 2. Section 62.162(b), Education Code, as added by |
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Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The office in consultation with the commissioner of |
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higher education may adopt any rules the office considers necessary |
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to administer this subchapter. The commissioner shall recommend to |
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the office the types of national academic recognitions that are |
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considered to be highly prestigious for purposes of determining |
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which individuals or groups qualify as a "distinguished researcher" |
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under Section 62.161. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 62, Education Code, as |
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added by Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended by adding Section |
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62.169 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.169. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The governor's |
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university research initiative advisory board is established to |
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assist the office with the review and evaluation of applications |
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for funding of grant proposals under this subchapter. The advisory |
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board shall make recommendations to the office for approval or |
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disapproval of those applications. |
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(b) The advisory board must be composed of at least nine |
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members appointed by the governor. Of the members of the board: |
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(1) one-third of the members, as nearly as possible, |
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must have a background in finance; |
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(2) one-third of the members, as nearly as possible, |
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must have an academic background in science, technology, |
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engineering, or mathematics; and |
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(3) one-third of the members, as nearly as possible, |
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must be public members. |
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(c) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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size, composition, or duration of the advisory board. |
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(d) A member of the advisory board who is or has been |
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employed by, is or has been a party to a contract for any purpose |
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with, or is a student or former student of an applicant eligible |
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institution may not be involved in the review, evaluation, or |
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recommendation of a grant proposal made by that institution. |
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(e) An advisory board member is not required to be a |
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resident of this state. |
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(f) Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without |
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regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or |
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national origin of the appointees. |
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(g) Members of the advisory board serve without |
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compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses in attending meetings of the board or performing |
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other official duties authorized by the office. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter H, Chapter 62, Education Code, as |
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added by Chapter 448 (H.B. 7), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2015, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a grant application submitted to the Texas Economic Development |
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and Tourism Office in the office of the governor on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A grant application submitted before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
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the date the application was submitted, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |