By Davis of Harris, Eiland, Gray, Talton H.B. No. 2992 76R11670 CAG-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of a business technology outreach program 1-3 at the University of Houston. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 111, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 111.42 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 111.42. BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM. (a) The 1-8 board shall develop and establish a business technology outreach 1-9 program to assist businesses in this state to make use of 1-10 technology developed by the National Aeronautics and Space 1-11 Administration. The board shall work with the National Aeronautics 1-12 and Space Administration, appropriate businesses, and economic 1-13 development organizations in this state to carry out the program. 1-14 (b) From money appropriated to or otherwise under the 1-15 control of the board, the board may award grants to economic 1-16 development organizations for use in recruiting appropriate 1-17 businesses for participation in the program and to provide other 1-18 appropriate assistance to program participants. 1-19 (c) The board shall appoint an advisory board of technical 1-20 advisors to evaluate requests from economic development 1-21 organizations and businesses for assistance under the program and 1-22 advise the board on distribution of the assistance. 1-23 (d) The board shall adopt rules to administer the program, 1-24 including rules relating to application and eligibility for grants. 2-1 The board may enter into agreements as necessary to carry out the 2-2 program. 2-3 SECTION 2. Before September 1, 2000, the board of regents of 2-4 the University of Houston System shall provide assistance under 2-5 Section 111.42, Education Code, as added by this Act, only in a 2-6 county with a population of more than 200,000 that contains, or is 2-7 contiguous to a county that contains, a National Aeronautics and 2-8 Space Administration facility. On and after September 1, 2000, the 2-9 board of regents may provide the assistance throughout the state. 2-10 SECTION 3. This Act does not make an appropriation. Section 2-11 1 of this Act does not require the board of regents of the 2-12 University of Houston System to establish a business technology 2-13 outreach program unless money is specifically appropriated to fund 2-14 the program. 2-15 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-16 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 2-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.