JKM S.B. 1518 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
S.B. 1518
By: Truan (Williams)
4-29-97
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, Texas does not have an entity dedicated to assist partnership
between private and public entities seeking to develop or disseminate high
technology products or concepts.  This bill will create the Texas High
Technology Partnership at the Houston Advanced Research Center. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, SB 1518 creates the Texas High Technology Partnership at the
Houston Advanced Research 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.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.  Sets forth legislative findings
regarding high technology. 

SECTION 2.  AMENDMENT.  Amends Title 3H, Education Code, by adding Chapter
150, as follows: 

  CHAPTER 150.   TEXAS HIGH TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP

 Sec. 150.001.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "center" and "partnership"

 Sec. 150.002.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.  Provides that the Texas High
Technology Partnership (partnership) is hereby established and sets forth
the purpose of  the partnership.  

 Sec. 150.003.  LOCATION.  Requires the partnership to be located at the
Houston  Advanced Research Center (center), a research consortium which
includes certain  founding member institutions. 

 Sec. 150.004.  ADMINISTRATION.  Requires the administration of the
partnership to be  by the board of directors of the center. 

 Sec. 150.005.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  Authorizes the advisory committee on
science and technology (committee), if the governor appoints a committee,
to also  serve as an advisory committee to the board of directors of the
center and review or  evaluate proposals submitted to the partnership. 
 
 Sec. 150.006.  FUNDING.  Provides regulations regarding funding for the
partnership. 

 Sec. 150.007.  AWARD OF FUNDING.  Stipulates factors which the center's
board shall    consider in awarding grants or funds. 

 Sec. 150.008.  ANNUAL REPORTING.  Requires partnership to provide each
board  member with an annual audited financial statement and a status
report of each project  undertaken by the partnership. 

SECTION 3.  EMERGENCY CLAUSE.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT #1.  Amends SECTION 1 (1), (2), and (3) to include biomedical
businesses and industries, and amends SECTION 2, Sec. 150.006 (c),
Education Code, by inserting language that requires the board of directors
to consult with the center's affiliated institutions when awarding grants
or funding or providing matching funds.