1-1 By: Williams (Senate Sponsor - Bernsen) H.B. No. 2547
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999;
1-3 May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Education; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the operation of the Geo-Technology Research Institute.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Section 149.002, Education Code, is amended to
1-11 read as follows:
1-12 Sec. 149.002. GEO-TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. The
1-13 Geo-Technology Research Institute is located at the center, a
1-14 research consortium that includes The University of Texas at
1-15 Austin, Texas A&M University, Rice University, and the University
1-16 of Houston.
1-17 SECTION 2. Section 149.004, Education Code, is amended to
1-18 read as follows:
1-19 Sec. 149.004. DUTIES. (a) The institute shall conduct basic
1-20 and applied research and analysis in geoscience [geophysics],
1-21 geo-technology, and related fields, including the implementation of
1-22 technological advances and development of integrated databases [to
1-23 discover new reserves and to develop technology that increases the
1-24 production potential of oil and natural gas].
1-25 (b) Results of the research of the institute shall be made
1-26 available to state agencies [the General Land Office, the Railroad
1-27 Commission of Texas], other public bodies and officials, industry,
1-28 and private citizens [groups].
1-29 SECTION 3. Sections 149.005(a) and (c), Education Code, are
1-30 amended to read as follows:
1-31 (a) The institute may receive:
1-32 (1) funds from the federal government or the state
1-33 government, including funds from:
1-34 (A) direct appropriations to the institute;
1-35 (B) an agreement under Chapter 771 or 791,
1-36 Government Code; or
1-37 (C) a contract under Subtitle D, Title 10,
1-38 Government Code, including funds received as a vendor in a
1-39 proprietary purchase made under Section 2155.067, Government Code;
1-40 and
1-41 (2) pledges or gifts from private sources.
1-42 (c) The use of state funds is limited to expenditures for
1-43 basic and applied research and analysis, excluding construction
1-44 costs [for construction, operation, or maintenance of facilities].
1-45 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-46 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-47 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-48 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-49 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-50 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-51 passage, and it is so enacted.
1-52 * * * * *