By:  Truan                                            S.B. No. 1040

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to programs of institutions of higher education that

 1-2     address small business research and development.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 61.0775 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 61.0775.  BUSINESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  (a)  The

 1-7     board shall conduct a continuing study of the programs and other

 1-8     efforts of institutions of higher education to address the needs of

 1-9     small businesses in this state for assistance in research,

1-10     development, and prototyping.

1-11           (b)  At times the board considers appropriate, the board

1-12     shall make recommendations to appropriate institutions of higher

1-13     education or the legislature on actions that may be taken to

1-14     address the needs of small businesses as described by Subsection

1-15     (a) in the most cost-effective manner, including through the

1-16     participation by institutions of higher education in partnerships,

1-17     ventures, or projects that promote the commercialization of

1-18     technology for or by small businesses.

1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.