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 * * * * *