1-1 By: Truan S.B. No. 1040 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 7, 1997; March 11, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 17, 1997, 1-4 reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0; 1-5 April 17, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to programs of institutions of higher education that 1-9 address small business research and development. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Section 61.0775 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 61.0775. BUSINESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. (a) The 1-14 board shall conduct a continuing study of the programs and other 1-15 efforts of institutions of higher education to address the needs of 1-16 small businesses in this state for assistance in research, 1-17 development, and prototyping. 1-18 (b) At times the board considers appropriate, the board 1-19 shall make recommendations to appropriate institutions of higher 1-20 education or the legislature on actions that may be taken to 1-21 address the needs of small businesses as described by Subsection 1-22 (a) in the most cost-effective manner, including through the 1-23 participation by institutions of higher education in partnerships, 1-24 ventures, or projects that promote the commercialization of 1-25 technology for or by small businesses. 1-26 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-27 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-28 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-29 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-30 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-31 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-32 * * * * *