1-1 By: Bernsen, Moncrief, Ellis S.B. No. 550 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 6, 2001; February 7, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce; 1-4 March 26, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 26, 2001, 1-6 sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 550 By: Jackson 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to the creation of a life science task force. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. (a) Not later than October 1, 2001, the 1-13 governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of 1-14 representatives shall establish a life science task force to: 1-15 (1) study the emergence of the life science industry 1-16 in this state and the factors contributing to its growth; and 1-17 (2) make recommendations to the legislature on how to 1-18 foster the growth of the life science industry in this state. 1-19 (b) The life science task force consists of 21 members as 1-20 follows: 1-21 (1) three senators appointed by the lieutenant 1-22 governor; 1-23 (2) three members of the house of representatives 1-24 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1-25 (3) six persons from the private sector appointed by 1-26 the governor who have significant business leadership experience in 1-27 the life sciences and whose collective expertise includes expertise 1-28 in the following areas: 1-29 (A) agricultural biotechnology; 1-30 (B) environmental biotechnology; 1-31 (C) pharmaceuticals; 1-32 (D) medical devices; 1-33 (E) genomics; 1-34 (F) bioinformatics; and 1-35 (G) nanotechnology; 1-36 (4) two persons appointed by the governor who have 1-37 experience and knowledge in structuring and providing financing for 1-38 life science products or businesses; and 1-39 (5) seven persons from institutions of higher 1-40 education appointed by the governor who have experience in life 1-41 science research and the transfer of research results into 1-42 commercial applications. 1-43 (c) The governor shall appoint a presiding officer from 1-44 among the members of the life science task force. 1-45 (d) A legislative entity shall assist the life science task 1-46 force at the request of the lieutenant governor or the speaker of 1-47 the house of representatives, and a state agency in the executive 1-48 branch of state government shall assist the task force at the 1-49 request of the task force. 1-50 (e) The life science task force shall meet: 1-51 (1) as directed by the governor; and 1-52 (2) at least quarterly, as determined by the task 1-53 force, beginning not later than November 30, 2001. 1-54 (f) The life science task force is not subject to Chapter 1-55 2110, Government Code. 1-56 (g) The life science task force shall: 1-57 (1) identify barriers to the growth of the life 1-58 science industry, including barriers relating to the industry 1-59 workforce, capital formation technology transfer, infrastructure, 1-60 and consumer access to the products and services of this industry; 1-61 (2) examine regional strategies throughout the state 1-62 that have been developed to foster the growth of the life science 1-63 industry and identify opportunities for improved coordination and 1-64 collaboration among the regions; and 2-1 (3) make recommendations to the legislature on how to 2-2 foster the growth of the life science industry, including 2-3 recommendations on how to: 2-4 (A) enable and foster collaboration among 2-5 institutions, regions, and public and private resources; 2-6 (B) enhance federal, international, and industry 2-7 funding and resources to support basic research at institutions of 2-8 higher education; 2-9 (C) encourage greater commercialization of 2-10 intellectual property within the state; 2-11 (D) improve funding resources for early-stage 2-12 commercialization efforts; 2-13 (E) attract and sustain a sufficient workforce 2-14 to meet technical, scientific, and managerial needs; 2-15 (F) establish an infrastructure to meet industry 2-16 needs for research, manufacturing, and testing; and 2-17 (G) maximize consumer and patient access to the 2-18 products and services of the life science industry. 2-19 (h) Not later than January 1, 2003, the life science task 2-20 force shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and 2-21 speaker of the house of representatives a detailed report of its 2-22 findings accompanied by recommended solutions to the major issues 2-23 facing the growth of the life science industry. 2-24 SECTION 2. This Act expires and the life science task force 2-25 is abolished February 1, 2003. 2-26 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-27 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-28 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-29 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-30 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-31 * * * * *