1-1     By:  Truan                                            S.C.R. No. 51

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 1997; March 24, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on International Relations,

 1-4     Trade, and Technology; April 3, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 3, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, Emerging technologies have fueled the economic

 1-8     resurgence of the Lone Star State in recent years, and  marketing,

 1-9     producing, and implementing research and development innovations is

1-10     essential to ensuring our state's continued economic prosperity in

1-11     the 21st century and beyond; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Texas universities spend approximately $1 billion

1-13     annually on basic and applied research but, because Texas does not

1-14     provide an environment that promotes the commercialization of

1-15     cutting-edge technology as a long-term economic development

1-16     strategy, many opportunities to exploit this technological research

1-17     have been lost; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Although legislative and policy directives have

1-19     provided a foundation for high technology to advance Texas'

1-20     economic interests in the world market, a number of business

1-21     assistance and development programs established to promote

1-22     technology transfer and adoption in the private sector are either

1-23     at maximum capacity or no longer exist because of cuts in federal

1-24     and state funding; and

1-25           WHEREAS, Modifying existing programs to allow more flexible

1-26     approaches would increase access to capital for technology

1-27     development and adoption, enabling greater numbers of small

1-28     businesses to use new technology to enhance their competitiveness

1-29     and assist in job retention and creation; now, therefore, be it

1-30           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-31     hereby direct the Texas Department of Commerce to study and suggest

1-32     adjustments to existing business assistance programs in order to

1-33     increase technology-based investments in the state that will expand

1-34     both domestic and international market share for Texas businesses;

1-35     and, be it further

1-36           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

1-37     copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas

1-38     Department of Commerce.

1-39                                  * * * * *