SRC-PNG S.B. 976 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 976
76R7433 DWS-DBy: Brown
Technology & Business Growth
4/20/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has
backed technology outreach programs in at least one other state, in
accordance with its charter, which states that technologies developed
during space exploration are to be shared with American companies.  For
instance, Florida has developed a Technological Research and Development
Authority, which has been very successful in teaming county economic
development organizations and NASA-Kennedy Space Center to apply NASA and
private aerospace engineering expertise to the challenges of local
businesses, at no cost to the businesses.  Florida officials estimate that
these contributions have saved four companies from closing, and have
protected and created other jobs.  This bill would create a Texas business
technology outreach program to assist businesses in the state in making use
of technology developed by NASA. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 976 creates a Texas business technology outreach program
to assist businesses in the state in making use of technology developed by
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Aerospace Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 482.004(d), Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 482, Government Code, by adding Section 482.004,
as follows: 

Sec.  482.004.  BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM.   Requires the Texas
Aerospace Commission (commission) to develop a business technology outreach
program to assist businesses in this state to make use of technology
developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Requires the commission to work with NASA, appropriate businesses, and
economic development organizations in this state to carry out the program.
Authorizes the commission to award grants to economic development
organizations for use in recruiting appropriate businesses for
participation in the program and provide other appropriate assistance to
program participants, from money in the Texas Aerospace Commission account.
Requires the commission to appoint a board of technical advisors to
evaluate requests from economic development organizations and businesses
for assistance under the program and advise the commission on distribution
of the assistance.  Requires the commission to adopt rules to administer
the program, including rules relating to application and eligibility for
grants.  Authorizes the commission to enter agreements as necessary to
carry out the program. 

SECTION 2. Provides that before September 1, 2000, the commission shall
provide assistance under Section 482.004, Government Code, only in a county
with a population of more than 200,000 that contains, or is contiguous to a
county that contains, a NASA facility.  Authorizes the commission to
provide assistance throughout the state, on or after September 1, 2000. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.