By Solis of Cameron                                   H.B. No. 2030
         76R2624 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to establishing a vice president for economic development
 1-3     at state universities.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 51.355 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 51.355.  VICE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  (a)
 1-8     The governing board of each general academic teaching institution
 1-9     shall establish an office of vice president for economic
1-10     development under the president of the institution.
1-11           (b)  The vice president for economic development shall
1-12     coordinate the institution's programs and activities to ensure
1-13     that, to the extent consistent with the institution's mission and
1-14     legal authority, the institution contributes to the economic
1-15     development of this state and of the communities and regions served
1-16     by the institution and to the economic opportunities available to
1-17     graduates of the institution and to the residents of this state.
1-18     To carry out those duties, the vice president shall:
1-19                 (1)  ensure that the institution's degree programs and
1-20     course content remain up-to-date and provide knowledge, skills, and
1-21     credentials appropriate for the fields and industries to which they
1-22     are directed and for preparing graduates to contribute to the
1-23     economic and technological progress of this state;
1-24                 (2)  develop partnerships and other cooperative efforts
 2-1     with the private sector to pursue research grants, administer
 2-2     research projects, and develop patents, technologies, innovations,
 2-3     and strategies that foster economic development;
 2-4                 (3)  facilitate the dissemination of technological
 2-5     advances and economic information developed by the institution to
 2-6     the private sector; and
 2-7                 (4)  develop strategies by which the institution and
 2-8     the private sector can work together to satisfy state and local
 2-9     educational needs and to promote economic opportunity.
2-10           (c)  The vice president for economic development shall foster
2-11     regular communications between the institution and representatives
2-12     of the private sector in carrying out the vice president's duties.
2-13           SECTION 2.  Each general academic teaching institution shall
2-14     establish the position of vice president for economic development
2-15     for the institution not later than January 1, 2000.  An institution
2-16     that already employs a person to perform similar functions may
2-17     designate that person as vice president for economic development at
2-18     the institution.
2-19           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-24     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-25     passage, and it is so enacted.