By Davis of Harris                                    H.B. No. 2992
         76R7433 DWS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation of a business technology outreach program.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 482, Government Code, is amended by
 1-5     adding Section 482.004 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 482.004.  BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM.  (a)
 1-7     The commission shall develop a business technology outreach program
 1-8     to assist businesses in this state to make use of technology
 1-9     developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
1-10     The commission shall work with the National Aeronautics and Space
1-11     Administration, appropriate businesses, and economic development
1-12     organizations in this state to carry out the program.
1-13           (b)  From money in the Texas Aerospace Commission account the
1-14     commission may award grants to economic development organizations
1-15     for use in recruiting appropriate businesses for participation in
1-16     the program and provide other appropriate assistance to program
1-17     participants.
1-18           (c)  The commission shall appoint a board of technical
1-19     advisors to evaluate requests from economic development
1-20     organizations and businesses for assistance under the program and
1-21     advise the commission on distribution of the assistance.
1-22           (d)  The commission shall adopt rules to administer the
1-23     program, including rules relating to application and eligibility
1-24     for grants.  The commission may enter agreements as necessary to
 2-1     carry out the program.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  Before September 1, 2000, the Texas Aerospace
 2-3     Commission shall provide assistance under Section 482.004,
 2-4     Government Code, as added by this Act, only in a county with a
 2-5     population of more than 200,000 that contains, or is contiguous to
 2-6     a county that contains, a National Aeronautics and Space
 2-7     Administration facility.  On and after September 1, 2000, the
 2-8     commission may provide the assistance throughout the state.
 2-9           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-10           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.