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.