By Truan                                                S.B. No. 73
         76R1869 CLG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the establishment of a video teleconferencing pilot
 1-3     program to assist certain businesses in establishing international
 1-4     trade relationships.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  The International Trade and
 1-7     Technology Center at The University of Texas-Pan American shall
 1-8     develop and implement a video teleconferencing pilot program
 1-9     designed to assist small businesses in establishing international
1-10     trade relationships by allowing the businesses access to certain
1-11     video conferencing facilities for a fee.
1-12           (b)  In developing the pilot program, the center shall:
1-13                 (1)  work in conjunction with small business
1-14     development centers affiliated with institutions of higher
1-15     education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003, Education
1-16     Code, and the General Services Commission;
1-17                 (2)  ensure that the pilot program is designed to allow
1-18     small businesses with limited resources to explore trade
1-19     possibilities with foreign countries before actually traveling to
1-20     those countries;
1-21                 (3)  determine the amount of the usage fees to be
1-22     charged to participants of the pilot program, which in the
1-23     aggregate may not be more than the amount necessary to cover the
1-24     cost of administering and implementing the pilot program;
 2-1                 (4)  use available mobile telecommunications
 2-2     facilities; and
 2-3                 (5)  set a timetable to implement and complete the
 2-4     pilot program.
 2-5           (c)  To cover the cost of administering and implementing the
 2-6     pilot program, the center may obtain federal foundation funds
 2-7     available for that purpose or private funds from any source.
 2-8           SECTION 2.  REPORTS.  Not later than January 15, 2001, the
 2-9     International Trade and Technology Center at The University of
2-10     Texas-Pan American shall submit to the governor and the legislature
2-11     an initial report concerning the effectiveness of the pilot
2-12     program.  The center shall submit to the governor and the
2-13     legislature a subsequent report not later than January 15, 2003.
2-14           SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND DEADLINES.  (a)  This Act
2-15     takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-16           (b)  The International Trade and Technology Center at The
2-17     University of Texas-Pan American should establish the pilot program
2-18     required by this Act not later than January 1, 2000.
2-19           SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION DATE.  This Act expires September 1,
2-20     2004.
2-21           SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
2-22     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.