By:  Truan, Lucio, Zaffirini                           S.B. No. 210
              Shapleigh
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to directing certain higher education research programs to
 1-2     address environmental issues affecting the Texas-Mexico border
 1-3     region.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 142.002, Education Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 142.002. PURPOSE. The advanced research program is
 1-8     established to encourage and provide support for basic research
 1-9     conducted by faculty members in astronomy, atmospheric science,
1-10     biological and behavioral sciences, chemistry, computer sciences,
1-11     earth sciences, engineering, information science, mathematics,
1-12     material sciences, oceanography, physics, environmental issues
1-13     affecting the Texas-Mexico border region, the reduction of
1-14     industrial, agricultural, and domestic water use, social sciences,
1-15     and related disciplines in eligible institutions.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Section 143.003, Education Code, is amended to
1-17     read as follows:
1-18           Sec. 143.003.  PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS.  The technology
1-19     program may provide support for faculty members to conduct research
1-20     in areas determined by an advisory panel appointed by the
1-21     coordinating board.  Initial research areas shall include:
1-22     agriculture, biotechnology, biomedicine, energy, environment,
1-23     materials science, microelectronics, aerospace, marine science,
1-24     aquaculture, telecommunications, manufacturing science,
 2-1     environmental issues affecting the Texas-Mexico border region, the
 2-2     reduction of industrial, agricultural, and domestic water use,
 2-3     recycling, and related disciplines.  The advisory panel may add or
 2-4     delete priority research areas as the panel considers warranted.
 2-5           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-10     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-11     passage, and it is so enacted.