HBA-DMD C.S.S.B. 73 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 73
By: Truan, Lucio
State, Federal, & International Relations
4/29/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the majority of Texas' university school systems have video
teleconferencing technology in place. Small businesses may be able to
benefit from the use of this equipment in order to establish international
trade relationships and to find innovative ways to conduct business.
C.S.S.B. 73 requires the International Trade and Technology center at The
University of Texas-Pan American (center) to develop and implement a video
teleconferencing pilot program to assist small businesses in establishing
international trade relationships. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  PILOT PROGRAM. Requires the International Trade and Technology
Center at The University of Texas--Pan American (center) to develop and
implement a video teleconferencing pilot program (pilot program) designed
to assist small businesses in establishing international trade
relationships by allowing the businesses access to certain video
conferencing facilities for a fee. Specifies requirements for the center
when developing the pilot program. Authorizes the center to obtain federal
foundation funds available for that purpose or private funds from any
source, in order to cover the cost of administering and implementing the
pilot program. 

SECTION 2.  REPORTS. Requires the center to submit an initial report
concerning the effectiveness of the pilot program to the governor and the
legislature, no later than January 15, 2001. Requires the center to submit
to the governor and the legislature a subsequent report no later than
January 15, 2003. 

SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
Sets forth that the center should establish the pilot program required by
this Act no later than January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 4.Sets forth that this Act expires September 1, 2004.

SECTION 5.Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

This substitute modifies proposed Subsection (b) in SECTION 1, to require
the International Trade and Technology Center at The University of
Texas--Pan American, when developing the pilot program, to work in
conjunction with small business development centers affiliated with public
or private institutions of higher education, rather than development
centers affiliated with institutions of higher education as defined by
Section 61.003, Education Code, and the General Services Commission.