By:  Carona                                           S.B. No. 1342
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to a state initiative encouraging the development of
 1-2     research in biotechnology and biogenetics.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Education Code, is amended by adding
 1-5     Chapter 151 to read as follows:
 1-6      CHAPTER 151.  BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOGENETICS RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
 1-7           Sec. 151.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
 1-8           (1)  "Biotechnology and biogenetics research" means research
 1-9     the primary object of which is to gain a fuller fundamental
1-10     knowledge of biotechnology and biogenetics and application of such
1-11     knowledge to the public good.
1-12           (2)  "Coordinating board" has the meaning assigned by Section
1-13     61.003 of this code.
1-14           (3)  "Eligible institution" means a "medical or dental unit"
1-15     as that term is defined by Section 61.003 of this code.
1-16           (4)  "Eligible program" means a specific research project, or
1-17     a research incubator, county research and development project, or
1-18     other initiative that provides infrastructure support for one or
1-19     more research projects in biotechnology and biogenetics research at
1-20     an eligible institution.
1-21           (5)  "Faculty member" means a person who is tenured or is in
1-22     a tenure track position or a research professional employed by an
 2-1     eligible institution.
 2-2           (6)  "Initiative" means the biotechnology and biogenetics
 2-3     research initiative developed under this chapter.
 2-4           Sec. 151.002.  PURPOSE.  The biotechnology and biogenetics
 2-5     research initiative is established to encourage and provide support
 2-6     for basic research conducted by faculty members in biotechnology,
 2-7     biogenetics and directly related disciplines at eligible
 2-8     institutions.
 2-9           Sec. 151.003.  ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES.
2-10     (a)  The coordinating board shall administer the initiative.
2-11           (b)  The coordinating board shall utilize an advisory
2-12     committee, a majority of which consists of experts in biotechnology
2-13     and biogenetics research, to advise the board regarding the board's
2-14     development of research priorities, guidelines, and procedures to
2-15     be used in selecting eligible programs.
2-16           (c)  The guidelines and procedures developed by the
2-17     coordinating board must provide for awards to be made to eligible
2-18     projects based on:
2-19           (1)  competitive, peer review analysis;
2-20           (2)  amount of past biotechnology and biogenetics research
2-21     conducted by an eligible institution that has been funded by
2-22     federal and private grants, contracts, gifts and endowments; and
2-23           (3)  the provision of matching funds for the award that will
2-24     be made by any private source or a local government.
2-25           Sec. 151.004.  FUNDING.  (a)  The initiative is funded by
2-26     appropriations and by gifts, grants, and donations made for that
 3-1     purpose.
 3-2           (b)  From funds appropriated for the initiative, the
 3-3     comptroller of public accounts shall issue warrants to each
 3-4     eligible institution in the amount certified by the coordinating
 3-5     board to the comptroller.
 3-6           (c)  The funds appropriated for the initiative may be
 3-7     expended to support the eligible program for which an award is made
 3-8     and may not be expended for the general support of ongoing research
 3-9     at an eligible institution or for the construction or remodeling of
3-10     a facility.
3-11           Sec. 151.005.  PROJECT REVIEW.  (a)  The coordinating board
3-12     shall utilize an advisory committee in administering the fund, a
3-13     majority of which must be experts in biotechnology and biogenetics
3-14     research.
3-15           (b)  The advisory committee shall consist of nine members,
3-16     with three members to be selected by the governor, three by the
3-17     lieutenant governor and three by the speaker.
3-18           (c)  The advisory committee shall evaluate the initiative's
3-19     effectiveness and report its findings to the coordinating board and
3-20     legislature not later than September 1 of each year.  The advisory
3-21     committee shall include in its report any recommendations that it
3-22     has concerning funding allocations and proposals for future
3-23     funding.
3-24           SECTION 2.  Section 382.002, Local Government Code, is
3-25     amended to read as follows:
3-26           Sec. 382.002.  PURPOSE.  The primary purpose of this chapter
 4-1     is to create county research and development authorities to promote
 4-2     scientific research and development and commercialization of
 4-3     research in affiliation with public and private institutions of
 4-4     research, higher education, or health science centers.  Research to
 4-5     be promoted, developed, and commercialized includes research in
 4-6     recycling processes and recyclable materials and biotechnology and
 4-7     biogenetics.
 4-8           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 4-9     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.