By:  Truan, Lucio                                       S.B. No. 73
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the establishment of a video teleconferencing pilot
 1-2     program to assist certain businesses in establishing international
 1-3     trade relationships.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  The International Trade and
 1-6     Technology Center at The University of Texas--Pan American shall
 1-7     develop and implement a video teleconferencing pilot program
 1-8     designed to assist small businesses in establishing international
 1-9     trade relationships by allowing the businesses access to certain
1-10     video conferencing facilities for a fee.
1-11           (b)  In developing the pilot program, the center shall:
1-12                 (1)  work in conjunction with small business
1-13     development centers affiliated with institutions of higher
1-14     education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003, Education
1-15     Code, and the General Services Commission;
1-16                 (2)  ensure that the pilot program is designed to allow
1-17     small businesses with limited resources to explore trade
1-18     possibilities with foreign countries before actually traveling to
1-19     those countries;
1-20                 (3)  determine the amount of the usage fees to be
1-21     charged to participants of the pilot program, which in the
1-22     aggregate may not be more than the amount necessary to cover the
1-23     cost of administering and implementing the pilot program;
1-24                 (4)  use available mobile telecommunications
 2-1     facilities; and
 2-2                 (5)  set a timetable to implement and complete the
 2-3     pilot program.
 2-4           (c)  To cover the cost of administering and implementing the
 2-5     pilot program, the center may obtain federal foundation funds
 2-6     available for that purpose or private funds from any source.
 2-7           SECTION 2.  REPORTS.  Not later than January 15, 2001, the
 2-8     International Trade and Technology Center at The University of
 2-9     Texas--Pan American shall submit to the governor and the
2-10     legislature an initial report concerning the effectiveness of the
2-11     pilot program.  The center shall submit to the governor and the
2-12     legislature a subsequent report not later than January 15, 2003.
2-13           SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND DEADLINES.  (a)  This Act
2-14     takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-15           (b)  The International Trade and Technology Center at The
2-16     University of Texas--Pan American should establish the pilot
2-17     program required by this Act not later than January 1, 2000.
2-18           SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION DATE.  This Act expires September 1,
2-19     2004.
2-20           SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
2-21     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.