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.