MMA S.B. 811 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION S.B. 811 By: Truan (Rangel) 5-8-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND According to the International Relations, Trade & Technology Committee Interim Report, the coming century promises to present the world's trading sector with unprecedented opportunities, challenges and innovative ways to conduct business. Emerging telecommunications technologies and the application of these technologies will play an increasingly important role in the success of small- and medium-sized businesses. One of the more promising new technologies for such businesses interested in international commerce is video teleconferencing. Currently, the majority of Texas' university system schools have these technologies in place. This bill would require each Texas institution of higher education that includes or is affiliated with a small business development center to make its teleconferencing facilities available to the center. PURPOSE S.B. 811 would require each institution of higher education that includes or is affiliated with a small business development center to make its teleconferencing facilities available to the center. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9125, to read as follows: Sec. 51.9125. USE OF TELECONFERENCING FACILITIES TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESS. (a) Requires each institution of higher education including or affiliated with a small business development center to make its teleconferencing facilities available to the center at times when those facilities are not in use for other purposes of the institution. Authorizes a small business development center to use those facilities when available to assist small businesses in this state to expand their trade links outside of this state. (b) Requires each institution of higher education that operates teleconferencing facilities, if requested to do so by the District Export Council organized by the United States Department of Commerce of the region in which the institution is located, to consult with that council to discuss the feasibility of permitting the council to access those facilities to assist small businesses in this state to expand their trade links outside of this state. (c) Requires a small business development center or District Export Council that uses teleconferencing facilities under this section to reimburse the institution of higher education for the use of the facilities. Prohibits the institution from charging the center or council a higher rate for use of those facilities than it charges any other person. (d) Defines "institution of higher education." (e) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2002. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.