1-1     By:  Truan, Lucio                                       S.B. No. 73
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed December 2, 1998; January 26, 1999,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Special Committee on Border
 1-4     Affairs; April 9, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 9, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the establishment of a video teleconferencing pilot
 1-9     program to assist certain businesses in establishing international
1-10     trade relationships.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  The International Trade and
1-13     Technology Center at The University of Texas--Pan American shall
1-14     develop and implement a video teleconferencing pilot program
1-15     designed to assist small businesses in establishing international
1-16     trade relationships by allowing the businesses access to certain
1-17     video conferencing facilities for a fee.
1-18           (b)  In developing the pilot program, the center shall:
1-19                 (1)  work in conjunction with small business
1-20     development centers affiliated with institutions of higher
1-21     education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003, Education
1-22     Code, and the General Services Commission;
1-23                 (2)  ensure that the pilot program is designed to allow
1-24     small businesses with limited resources to explore trade
1-25     possibilities with foreign countries before actually traveling to
1-26     those countries;
1-27                 (3)  determine the amount of the usage fees to be
1-28     charged to participants of the pilot program, which in the
1-29     aggregate may not be more than the amount necessary to cover the
1-30     cost of administering and implementing the pilot program;
1-31                 (4)  use available mobile telecommunications
1-32     facilities; and
1-33                 (5)  set a timetable to implement and complete the
1-34     pilot program.
1-35           (c)  To cover the cost of administering and implementing the
1-36     pilot program, the center may obtain federal foundation funds
1-37     available for that purpose or private funds from any source.
1-38           SECTION 2.  REPORTS.  Not later than January 15, 2001, the
1-39     International Trade and Technology Center at The University of
1-40     Texas--Pan American shall submit to the governor and the
1-41     legislature an initial report concerning the effectiveness of the
1-42     pilot program.  The center shall submit to the governor and the
1-43     legislature a subsequent report not later than January 15, 2003.
1-44           SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND DEADLINES.  (a)  This Act
1-45     takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-46           (b)  The International Trade and Technology Center at The
1-47     University of Texas--Pan American should establish the pilot
1-48     program required by this Act not later than January 1, 2000.
1-49           SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION DATE.  This Act expires September 1,
1-50     2004.
1-51           SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
1-52     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-53     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-54     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-55     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-56                                  * * * * *