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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 482 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 482. TEXAS ADVANCED RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
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Sec. 482.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "institute" |
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means the Texas Advanced Research Institute. |
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Sec. 482.002. PURPOSES. The Texas Advanced Research |
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Institute is established in the office of the governor to: |
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(1) promote advanced research efforts in all |
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disciplines, including: |
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(A) energy; |
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(B) medicine; and |
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(C) biotechnology; |
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(2) attract, create, or expand research capabilities |
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of public or private institutions of higher education and other |
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public or private entities that will promote a substantial increase |
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in advanced research and development and in the creation of |
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inventions and patents in this state; |
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(3) ensure that this state invests and receives a |
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return on investment in advanced research and development |
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commensurate with the size and influence of this state's economy; |
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and |
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(4) serve as an intermediary between institutions of |
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higher education, the private sector, and other stakeholders to |
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develop the workforce of this state and equip that workforce with |
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skills and credentials for the jobs and professions of the future, |
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including technical skills. |
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Sec. 482.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Advanced |
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Research Institute is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). |
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Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the |
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institute is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2035. |
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Sec. 482.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The institute: |
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(1) may make grants to provide funding to public or |
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private persons to conduct research and development with the |
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objective of advancing knowledge, creating intellectual property, |
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and identifying commercial opportunities to monetize the products |
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resulting from advanced research and development; |
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(2) shall coordinate with participating public and |
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private persons to develop the Texas Advanced Research Plan; |
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(3) may support institutions of higher education, |
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advanced research facilities, and collaborations in this state in |
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all stages in the process of conducting and exploiting advanced |
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research and development; |
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(4) may establish the appropriate standards and |
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oversight bodies to ensure the proper use of funds authorized under |
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this chapter for advanced research and development; |
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(5) shall continuously monitor contracts and |
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agreements authorized by this chapter and ensure that each grant |
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recipient complies with the terms and conditions of the grant |
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contract; |
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(6) shall ensure that all grant proposals comply with |
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this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter before the |
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proposals are granted approval; and |
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(7) shall establish procedures to document that the |
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institute, its employees, and council members appointed under this |
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chapter comply with all laws governing the academic peer review |
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process and conflicts of interest where applicable. |
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(b) The institute shall implement the Texas Advanced |
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Research Plan and continually monitor and revise the plan as |
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necessary. |
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Sec. 482.005. LEADERSHIP, STAFF, AND RESOURCES. (a) The |
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institute is governed by a council of nine members appointed by the |
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governor. |
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(b) Members of the council serve staggered six-year terms |
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with one-third of the members' terms expiring on February 1 of each |
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odd-numbered year. |
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(c) The governor shall designate a member as the president |
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of the council to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the |
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governor. |
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(d) The office of the governor shall provide the institute |
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with necessary staff and resources to perform the institute's |
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duties under this chapter. |
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Sec. 482.006. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall |
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select the recipients of any grants awarded by the institute. |
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(b) The council may conduct surveys, research, or |
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investigations for the purposes of the institute. |
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Sec. 482.007. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least |
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once each year at the call of the president. |
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Sec. 482.008. FUNDING. (a) The institute may receive |
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state-appropriated funds for the purpose of supporting the |
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activities of the institute. |
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(b) The institute may solicit, accept, and use gifts, |
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grants, and donations from public and private sources for the |
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purposes of this chapter, subject only to limitations contained in |
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the gifts, grants, or donations. |
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(c) The institute may receive funding in the form of |
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royalties, license fees, and profits resulting from inventions, |
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discoveries, and products developed by or in partnership with, or |
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coordinated through, the institute. |
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SECTION 2. In appointing the initial members of the council |
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of the Texas Advanced Research Institute, the governor shall |
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appoint three members for terms expiring February 1, 2025, three |
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members for terms expiring February 1, 2027, and three members for |
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terms expiring February 1, 2029. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |