By Hinojosa H.B. No. 1874
76R6885 CAG-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the operation and administration of The University of
1-3 Texas--Pan American.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 51.502(1), Education Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (1) "Eligible institution" means the college,
1-8 department, or other unit of engineering at any of the following
1-9 institutions of higher education:
1-10 (A) The University of Texas at Austin;
1-11 (B) The University of Texas at Arlington;
1-12 (C) The University of Texas at El Paso;
1-13 (D) The University of Texas at San Antonio;
1-14 (E) The University of Texas of the Permian
1-15 Basin;
1-16 (F) Texas A&M University;
1-17 (G) Prairie View A&M University;
1-18 (H) Texas Tech University;
1-19 (I) Lamar University;
1-20 (J) University of Houston; [and]
1-21 (K) Texas A&M University--Kingsville; and
1-22 (L) The University of Texas--Pan American.
1-23 SECTION 2. Section 77.15(a), Education Code, is amended to
1-24 read as follows:
2-1 (a) In addition to other powers conferred on the board, the
2-2 board on behalf of the university may acquire by purchase,
2-3 exchange, or otherwise any tract or parcel of land in Hidalgo
2-4 County [that is contiguous or adjacent to the main campus of the
2-5 university in Edinburg, Texas].
2-6 SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 77, Education Code, is
2-7 amended by adding Section 77.16 to read as follows:
2-8 Sec. 77.16. SMALL BUSINESS VIDEO CONFERENCING PILOT PROJECT.
2-9 (a) The International Trade and Technology Center at the
2-10 university shall develop and implement a video conferencing pilot
2-11 program designed to assist small businesses in establishing
2-12 international trade relationships by allowing the businesses access
2-13 to certain video conferencing facilities for a fee.
2-14 (b) In developing the project, the center shall:
2-15 (1) work with small business development centers
2-16 affiliated with institutions of higher education, as defined by
2-17 Section 61.003, and the General Services Commission;
2-18 (2) ensure that the project allows a small business
2-19 with limited resources to explore trade possibilities with a
2-20 foreign country before traveling to that country;
2-21 (3) determine the amount of usage fees to be charged
2-22 participants so that the total amount of fees collected does not
2-23 exceed the cost of administering the project;
2-24 (4) use available mobile telecommunications
2-25 facilities; and
2-26 (5) set a timetable to complete the pilot program.
2-27 (c) The center may solicit and accept gifts and grants from
3-1 any source to cover the cost of administering the project.
3-2 (d) Not later than January 15, 2001, the International Trade
3-3 and Technology Center at the university shall submit to the
3-4 governor and the legislature an initial report on the effectiveness
3-5 of the project. The center shall submit a final report on the
3-6 project to the governor and the legislature not later than January
3-7 15, 2003.
3-8 (e) This section expires September 1, 2004.
3-9 SECTION 4. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-10 (b) The International Trade and Technology Center at The
3-11 University of Texas--Pan American shall establish a pilot project
3-12 as described by Section 77.16, Education Code, as added by this
3-13 Act, not later than January 1, 2000.
3-14 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.