By Duncan                                             H.B. No. 2249
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the emphasis of water conservation in certain advanced
    1-3  research and technology programs at institutions of higher
    1-4  education.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 142.002, Education Code, is amended to
    1-7  read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 142.002.  PURPOSE.  The advanced research program is
    1-9  established to encourage and provide support for basic research
   1-10  conducted by faculty members in astronomy, atmospheric science,
   1-11  biological and behavioral sciences, chemistry, computer sciences,
   1-12  earth sciences, engineering, information science, mathematics,
   1-13  material sciences, oceanography, physics, the reduction of
   1-14  industrial, agricultural, and domestic water use, <and> social
   1-15  sciences, and related disciplines in eligible institutions.
   1-16        SECTION 2. Section 143.003, Education Code, is amended to
   1-17  read as follows:
   1-18        Sec. 143.003.  PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS.  The technology
   1-19  program may provide support for faculty members to conduct research
   1-20  in areas determined by an advisory panel appointed by the
   1-21  coordinating board.  Initial research areas shall
   1-22  include:  agriculture, biotechnology, biomedicine, energy,
   1-23  environment, materials science, microelectronics, aerospace, marine
   1-24  science, aquaculture, telecommunications, manufacturing science,
    2-1  the reduction of industrial, agricultural, and domestic water use,
    2-2  <and> recycling, and related disciplines.  The advisory panel may
    2-3  add or delete priority research areas as the panel considers
    2-4  warranted.
    2-5        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-6  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-7  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-8  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-9  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-10  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-11  passage, and it is so enacted.