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.
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