By Bernsen S.B. No. 550
77R4773 ATP-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a life science task force.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. (a) Not later than October 1, 2001, the governor
1-5 shall appoint 21 persons to serve on a life science task force.
1-6 (b) The life science task force consists of:
1-7 (1) three senators and three members of the house of
1-8 representatives;
1-9 (2) six persons from the private sector with
1-10 significant business leadership experience in the life sciences,
1-11 whose collective expertise includes expertise in the following
1-12 areas:
1-13 (A) agricultural biotechnology;
1-14 (B) environmental biotechnology;
1-15 (C) pharmaceuticals;
1-16 (D) medical devices;
1-17 (E) genomics;
1-18 (F) bioinformatics; and
1-19 (G) nanotechnology;
1-20 (3) two persons experienced and knowledgeable in
1-21 structuring and providing financing for life science products or
1-22 businesses; and
1-23 (4) seven persons from institutions of higher
1-24 education who have experience in life science research and the
2-1 transfer of research results into commercial applications.
2-2 (c) The life science task force shall:
2-3 (1) identify barriers to the growth of the life
2-4 science industry, including barriers relating to the industry
2-5 workforce, capital formation technology transfer, infrastructure,
2-6 and consumer access to the products and services of this industry;
2-7 (2) examine regional strategies throughout the state
2-8 that have been developed to foster the growth of the life science
2-9 industry and identify opportunities for improved coordination and
2-10 collaboration among the regions;
2-11 (3) consider the findings and recommendations of the
2-12 "21st Century Life Science Road Map" report, prepared by the Texas
2-13 Healthcare and Bioscience Institute; and
2-14 (4) make recommendations to the legislature on how to
2-15 foster the growth of the life science industry, including
2-16 recommendations on how to:
2-17 (A) enable and foster collaboration among
2-18 institutions, regions, and public and private resources;
2-19 (B) enhance federal, international, and industry
2-20 funding and resources to support basic research at institutions of
2-21 higher education;
2-22 (C) encourage greater commercialization of
2-23 intellectual property within the state;
2-24 (D) improve funding resources for early-stage
2-25 commercialization efforts;
2-26 (E) attract and sustain a sufficient workforce
2-27 to meet technical, scientific, and managerial needs;
3-1 (F) establish an infrastructure to meet industry
3-2 needs for research, manufacturing, and testing; and
3-3 (G) maximize consumer and patient access to the
3-4 products and services of the life science industry.
3-5 (d) Not later than January 1, 2003, the life science task
3-6 force shall submit to the legislature a detailed report of its
3-7 findings accompanied by recommended solutions to the major issues
3-8 facing the growth of the life science industry.
3-9 SECTION 2. This Act expires February 1, 2003.
3-10 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-11 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-12 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-13 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-14 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.