By Villarreal                                         H.B. No. 2672
         77R6705 DWS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a pilot program to fund research and development
 1-3     assistance for small businesses.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. The Texas Department of Economic Development shall
 1-6     develop a two-year pilot program under which the department, from
 1-7     money appropriated for this purpose, makes grants to small business
 1-8     development centers to be used by those centers to fund programs
 1-9     under which students at institutions of higher education provide
1-10     research and development assistance to small businesses.
1-11           SECTION 2. Before January 1, 2003, the Texas Department of
1-12     Economic Development shall submit to the legislature a report of
1-13     the results of the pilot program developed under this Act.
1-14           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.