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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 semiconductor innovation |
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consortium and fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Amending Government Code, Chapter 481 to read as |
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follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER FF. TEXAS SEMICONDUCTOR INNOVATION CONSORTIUM |
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Sec. 481.610. ESTABLISHMENT. The Texas Semiconductor |
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Innovation Consortium is established as an advisory panel to the |
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governor and the legislature. The objectives of the consortium are: |
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(a) leverage the expertise and capacity of institutions of |
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higher education, industry, and non-profit stakeholders to develop |
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a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure ongoing semiconductor |
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innovation; |
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(b) sustain Texas leadership in advanced semiconductor |
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research, design, and manufacturing; |
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(c) attract public and private investment in the state |
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related to research, development, commercialization, and |
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manufacturing of semiconductors; |
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(d) identify and expand opportunities for workforce |
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training and development related to the research, design, and |
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manufacturing of semiconductors; and |
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(e) establish a forum for public and private stakeholders |
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across the semiconductor manufacturing industry within the state to |
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focus on education, research and development, and commercial |
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production. |
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Sec. 481.611. COMPOSITION. (a) The consortium is composed |
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of a designee appointed by the office of the president for each of |
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the following general academic institutions of higher education: |
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(1) The University of Texas at Arlington; |
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(2) The University of Texas at Austin; |
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(3) The University of Texas at Dallas; |
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(4) The University of Texas at El Paso; |
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(5) The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley; |
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(6) The University of Texas at San Antonio; |
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(7) Texas A&M University; |
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(8) Prairie View A&M University; |
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(9) The University of Houston; |
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(10) The University of North Texas; |
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(11) Texas Tech University; |
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(12) Texas State University; |
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(13) Lamar University; |
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(14) Lamar State College - Orange; |
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(15) Lamar State College - Port Arthur: |
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(16) Lamar Institute of Technology; |
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(17) Austin Community College; and |
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(18) Dallas Community College. |
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(b) In addition to the appointments made under Subsection |
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(a), the executive committee established under Government Code, |
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Section 481.613 may appoint any other entity or individual that it |
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deems beneficial. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsections (a) and (b), |
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priority shall be given to individuals with experience in |
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semiconductor design and manufacturing. |
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Sec. 481.612. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The consortium is |
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administratively attached to the office of the governor for the |
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purpose of receiving and administering appropriations and other |
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funds under this chapter. The office shall provide the staff and |
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facilities necessary to assist the consortium in performing its |
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duties. |
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Sec. 481.613. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a) The |
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consortium is governed by an executive committee composed of the |
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following members: |
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(1) 3 members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) 2 members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives; |
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(4) the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System |
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or their designee; and |
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(5) the Chancellor of the University of Texas System |
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or their designee. |
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(b) In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority |
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shall be given to individuals with experience in manufacturing, |
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design, industrial development, academic research, and scientific |
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research in the field of semiconductors. In making appointments |
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under Subsection (a), the governor, lieutenant governor, and |
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speaker of the house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure |
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that at least two representatives from the commercial semiconductor |
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design and manufacturing sectors with an established presence in |
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the state are appointed. |
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Sec. 481.614. GENERAL DUTIES. The executive committee |
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shall: |
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(a) develop and execute a comprehensive statewide strategic |
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plan to further the objectives of the consortium as established in |
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Section 481.610; |
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(b) solicit recommendations from consortium members on |
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funding and research opportunities related to semiconductor |
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research, design, commercialization, and manufacturing; |
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(c) select a person to act as the executive director of the |
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consortium, having such official title, functions, duties, powers, |
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and salary as the executive committee may prescribe. The executive |
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director may enter into agreements with the office of the governor |
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for staff support services to facilitate the work of the |
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consortium. Funds deposited to the Semiconductor Innovation Fund |
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may be utilized for the implementation of this subsection pursuant |
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to Government Code, Section 481.617; and |
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(d) report the recommendations assembled in Subsection |
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(b) as outlined in Government Code, Section 481.615. |
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Sec. 481.615 BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each even-numbered year, the executive committee shall prepare and |
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submit a written report to the governor and the legislative budget |
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board that outlines: |
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(a) activities undertaken to meet the objectives of the |
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consortium; |
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(b) a synopsis of the funding and research opportunities |
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identified in Section 481.614, Subsection (b); |
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(c) any legislative recommendations to further the |
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objectives of the consortium; |
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(d) any prospective grants or funding the consortium |
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members expect to apply for or receive; and |
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(e) any research accomplishments associated with the |
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consortium. |
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SUBCHAPTER FF. TEXAS SEMICONDUCTOR INNOVATION FUND |
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Sec. 481.616. FUND ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. The |
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Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund is created as a dedicated |
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account within the General Revenue Fund. The fund consists of: |
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(a) gifts, grants, or donations; and |
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(b) any other source designated by the legislature. |
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Sec. 481.617. FUND USE AND BALANCE MANAGEMENT. (a) The |
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fund may be utilized at the discretion of the legislature to: |
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(1) Provide appropriations to state entities and |
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institutions of higher education as matches for semiconductor |
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manufacturing and design projects; and |
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(2) Issue grants to private businesses with an |
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established presence within the state of Texas to encourage |
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economic development related to semiconductor manufacturing and |
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design. |
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(b) The fund may be utilized for the purposes described |
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Government Code, 481.614, Subsection (c), subject to approval by |
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the legislative budget board. Such a request shall be considered |
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approved within 30 days of receipt by the legislative budget board |
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unless expressly disapproved. |
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(c) The comptroller of public accounts shall return all |
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unexpended balances in the fund to general revenue on October 1 of |
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each even numbered year unless authorization is granted by the |
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legislative budget board to maintain the unexpended fund balance. |
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Such authorization shall be requested by the comptroller no later |
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than August 31 of each even numbered year, and shall be considered |
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approved within 30 days of receipt by the legislative budget board |
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unless expressly disapproved. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2023. |