SRC-TBR S.B. 1567 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1567 By: Harris Finance 3/20/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas does not have a fund specifically established to ensure that Texas' workforce is properly trained. As proposed, S.B. 1567 establishes the Emerging University excellence fund to provide funding to promote increased research capacity and to develop institutional excellence at eligible general academic teaching institutions in order to ensure that Texas and its workforce remain at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Subchapter V, as follows: SUBCHAPTER V. EMERGING UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE FUND Sec. 51.851. PURPOSE. Sets forth the purpose of the Emerging University excellence fund. Sec. 51.852. DEFINITIONS. Defines "eligible comprehensive research university." Sec. 51.853. ADMINISTRATION. (a) Provides that the Emerging University excellence fund is a fund outside the state treasury in the custody of the comptroller. (b) Requires the comptroller to administer and invest the fund. Sec. 51.854. FUNDING. (a) Authorizes the legislature to appropriate or provide for the transfer of any available money to the credit of the Emerging University excellence fund. (b) Requires the comptroller to deposit all interest, dividends, and other income earned from investment of the Emerging University excellence fund to the credit of the fund. (c) Authorizes the comptroller to accept gifts or grants from any public or private source for the fund. (d) Authorizes an institution to use money appropriated from the fund only for the support and maintenance of educational and general activities, including research and student services, that promote increased research capacity and develop institutional excellence at the institution. (d) Provides that Subsection (a) does not apply to the funding of the Emerging University excellence fund for the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2003. Requires that for each fiscal year in the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2003, a minimum of fifteen million dollars be reallocated from the Capital Equity and Excellence Funds contained in the General Appropriations Act. Provides that this subsection expires January 1, 2004. Sec. 51.855. APPROPRIATION AND ALLOCATION OF FUND TO ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. (a) Requires the legislature, in each state fiscal year, to appropriate all or part of the money in the Emerging University excellence fund to eligible comprehensive research universities and other eligible general academic teaching institutions following certain guidelines. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.