1-1 By: Truan S.B. No. 814 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 26, 1997; March 4, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on International Relations, 1-4 Trade, and Technology; April 11, 1997, reported adversely, with 1-5 favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 1-6 0; April 11, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 814 By: Truan 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to the establishment of a video teleconferencing pilot 1-11 program to assist certain businesses in establishing international 1-12 trade relationships. 1-13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-14 SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The International Trade and 1-15 Technology Center at The University of Texas-Pan American shall 1-16 develop a video teleconferencing pilot program designed to assist 1-17 small businesses in establishing international trade relationships 1-18 by allowing the businesses access to certain video conferencing 1-19 facilities for a fee. 1-20 (b) In implementing this pilot program, the International 1-21 Trade and Technology Center at The University of Texas-Pan American 1-22 shall: 1-23 (1) work in conjunction with small business 1-24 development centers affiliated with institutions of higher 1-25 education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003, Education 1-26 Code, and with the General Services Commission to develop the pilot 1-27 program; 1-28 (2) ensure that the pilot program is designed to allow 1-29 small businesses with limited resources to explore trade 1-30 possibilities with foreign countries before actually traveling to 1-31 those countries; 1-32 (3) determine the amount of the usage fees to be 1-33 charged to participants of the pilot program, which in the 1-34 aggregate may not be more than the amount necessary to cover the 1-35 cost of administering and implementing the pilot program; 1-36 (4) utilize mobile telecommunications facilities, if 1-37 available; and 1-38 (5) set a timetable for implementing and completing 1-39 the pilot program. 1-40 (c) To cover the cost of administering and implementing this 1-41 pilot program, the International Trade and Technology Center at The 1-42 University of Texas-Pan American may attempt to obtain any 1-43 available federal foundation or private funding from any legal 1-44 source. 1-45 SECTION 2. REPORTS. Not later than January 15, 1999, the 1-46 International Trade and Technology Center at The University of 1-47 Texas-Pan American shall submit to the governor and the legislature 1-48 an initial report concerning the effectiveness of the pilot 1-49 program. The center shall submit to the governor and the 1-50 legislature a subsequent report not later than January 15, 2001. 1-51 SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DEADLINES. (a) This Act 1-52 takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-53 (b) The International Trade and Technology Center at The 1-54 University of Texas-Pan American should establish the pilot program 1-55 required by this Act not later than January 1, 1998. 1-56 SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires September 1, 1-57 2002. 1-58 SECTION 5. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 1-59 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-60 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-61 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-62 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-63 * * * * *