By: Carona, Shapleigh S.B. No. 1485
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to state financing of the development and production of
1-3 Texas biotechnological and biomedical products and small
1-4 businesses; providing for the issuance of bonds.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
1-7 adding Subchapter P to read as follows:
1-8 SUBCHAPTER P. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS
1-9 Sec. 403.401. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-10 (1) "Board" means the Product Development and Small
1-11 Business Incubator Board.
1-12 (2) "Comptroller" includes the designee of the
1-13 comptroller.
1-14 (3) "Financing" means a loan, loan guarantee, or
1-15 equity investment from the product fund to a person for use in the
1-16 development and production of a product in this state, or a grant,
1-17 loan, or loan guarantee from the small business fund to a person
1-18 for use in the development of a small business in this state.
1-19 (4) "Office" means the office of the comptroller.
1-20 (5) "Product" includes an invention, device,
1-21 technique, or process, without regard to whether a patent has been
1-22 or could be granted, that has advanced beyond the theoretical stage
1-23 and has or is readily capable of having a commercial application.
1-24 The term does not include pure research.
1-25 (6) "Product fund" means the Texas product development
2-1 fund.
2-2 (7) "Program" means the product development program or
2-3 the small business incubator program.
2-4 (8) "Small business fund" means the Texas small
2-5 business incubator fund.
2-6 Sec. 403.402. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
2-7 INCUBATOR BOARD. (a) The Product Development and Small Business
2-8 Incubator Board is created in the office.
2-9 (b) The board shall administer the programs, the product
2-10 fund, and the small business fund.
2-11 Sec. 403.403. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD; APPOINTMENT; TERMS OF
2-12 OFFICE. (a) The board consists of the comptroller and eight
2-13 persons appointed by the governor.
2-14 (b) In appointing members of the board, the governor shall
2-15 appoint:
2-16 (1) two persons having significant business leadership
2-17 experience in technology, particularly experience with the transfer
2-18 of research results into commercial applications;
2-19 (2) two persons employed by institutions of higher
2-20 education of this state who have experience in technological
2-21 research and its commercial applications;
2-22 (3) two persons experienced and knowledgeable in
2-23 structuring and providing financing for technological products or
2-24 businesses; and
2-25 (4) two persons who reside in a county of this state
2-26 with above state average unemployment and below state average per
3-1 capita income and who have experience and knowledge in
3-2 technology-related business growth.
3-3 (c) Appointed members of the board serve two-year staggered
3-4 terms with the terms of four members expiring February 1 of each
3-5 odd-numbered year and the terms of four members expiring February 1
3-6 of each even-numbered year.
3-7 (d) The comptroller is the presiding officer of the board.
3-8 (e) The board shall appoint a secretary of the board whose
3-9 duties may be prescribed by law and by the board.
3-10 (f) Appointed members of the board serve without pay but are
3-11 entitled to reimbursement for their actual expenses incurred in
3-12 attending meetings of the board or in performing other work of the
3-13 board if that work is approved by the comptroller.
3-14 Sec. 403.404. REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER. (a) It is a ground
3-15 for removal from the board if an appointed member:
3-16 (1) cannot because of illness or disability discharge
3-17 the member's duties for a substantial part of the term for which
3-18 the member is appointed; or
3-19 (2) is absent from more than half of the regularly
3-20 scheduled board meetings that the member is eligible to attend
3-21 during a calendar year unless the absence is excused by majority
3-22 vote of the board.
3-23 (b) The validity of an action of the board is not affected
3-24 by the fact that the action was taken when a ground for removal of
3-25 a board member existed.
3-26 Sec. 403.405. TRAINING OF BOARD MEMBERS. (a) Before an
4-1 appointed member of the board may assume the member's duties, the
4-2 member must complete at least one course of the training program
4-3 established under this section.
4-4 (b) A training program established under this section shall
4-5 provide information to the member regarding:
4-6 (1) the enabling legislation that created the board;
4-7 (2) the programs operated by the board;
4-8 (3) the role and functions of the board;
4-9 (4) the rules of the board, with an emphasis on the
4-10 rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;
4-11 (5) the current budget for the board;
4-12 (6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the
4-13 board;
4-14 (7) the requirements of the:
4-15 (A) open meetings law, Chapter 551;
4-16 (B) open records law, Chapter 552; and
4-17 (C) administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001;
4-18 (8) the requirements of the conflict of interest laws
4-19 and other laws relating to public officials; and
4-20 (9) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
4-21 board or the Texas Ethics Commission.
4-22 Sec. 403.406. MEETINGS. (a) The board shall hold regular
4-23 meetings in Austin and other meetings at places and times scheduled
4-24 by the board in formal sessions and called by the comptroller.
4-25 (b) The board shall develop and implement policies that
4-26 provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before
5-1 the board and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the
5-2 board.
5-3 (c) The board shall make minutes of all meetings available
5-4 in the board's office for public inspection.
5-5 Sec. 403.407. APPLICABILITY OF OPEN MEETINGS LAW AND
5-6 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE LAW. The board is subject to the open
5-7 meetings law, Chapter 551, and the administrative procedure law,
5-8 Chapter 2001.
5-9 Sec. 403.408. STAFF. (a) The employees of the comptroller
5-10 selected by the comptroller for that purpose serve as the staff of
5-11 the board.
5-12 (b) The comptroller shall select and supervise the staff of
5-13 the board and perform other duties delegated to the comptroller by
5-14 the board.
5-15 (c) The comptroller shall provide to members of the board
5-16 and to board staff, as often as necessary, information regarding
5-17 their qualifications for office or employment under this subchapter
5-18 and their responsibilities under applicable laws relating to
5-19 standards of conduct for state officers or employees.
5-20 (d) The board shall develop and implement policies that
5-21 clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board
5-22 and the management responsibilities of the comptroller and the
5-23 office.
5-24 Sec. 403.409. PROGRAM AND FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY. (a) The
5-25 board shall comply with federal and state laws related to program
5-26 and facility accessibility.
6-1 (b) The board shall prepare and maintain a written plan that
6-2 describes how a person who does not speak English can be provided
6-3 reasonable access to the board's programs and services.
6-4 Sec. 403.410. POWERS OF THE BOARD; BONDS. (a) The board
6-5 has the powers necessary and reasonable to carry out this
6-6 subchapter and may adopt rules, policies, and procedures necessary
6-7 or reasonable to implement this subchapter.
6-8 (b) The board may issue general obligation bonds, up to the
6-9 amounts authorized and as provided by Section 71, Article XVI,
6-10 Texas Constitution, to fund the program.
6-11 (c) Not more than an amount equal to five percent of the
6-12 total amount of bonds issued may be used to pay administrative fees
6-13 involved in selling the bonds.
6-14 Sec. 403.411. TEXAS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT FUND. (a) The
6-15 Texas product development fund is a revolving fund in the state
6-16 treasury.
6-17 (b) The product fund is composed of proceeds of bonds issued
6-18 under this subchapter, financing application fees, loan repayments,
6-19 guarantee fees, royalty receipts, dividend income, money
6-20 appropriated by the legislature for authorized purposes of the
6-21 product fund, amounts received by the state from loans, loan
6-22 guarantees, and equity investments made under this subchapter,
6-23 amounts received by the state from federal grants or other sources,
6-24 and any other amounts received under this subchapter and required
6-25 by resolution of the board to be deposited in the product fund.
6-26 The product fund contains a program account, an interest and
7-1 sinking account, and other accounts that the board authorizes to be
7-2 created and maintained. Money in the product fund is available for
7-3 use by the board under this subchapter. Notwithstanding any other
7-4 provision of this subchapter, any money in the product fund may be
7-5 used for debt service.
7-6 (c) Money in the program account of the product fund, minus
7-7 the costs of issuance of bonds under this subchapter and necessary
7-8 costs of administering the product fund, may be used only to
7-9 provide financing to aid in the development and production,
7-10 including the commercialization, of new or improved products in
7-11 this state. The board shall provide financing from the product
7-12 fund on the terms and conditions that the board determines to be
7-13 reasonable, appropriate, and consistent with the purposes and
7-14 objectives of the product fund and this subchapter, for the purpose
7-15 of aiding in the development and production of new or improved
7-16 products in this state.
7-17 Sec. 403.412. SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR FUND. (a) The Texas
7-18 small business incubator fund is a revolving fund in the state
7-19 treasury.
7-20 (b) The small business fund is composed of proceeds of bonds
7-21 issued under this subchapter, financing application fees, loan
7-22 repayments, guarantee fees, royalty receipts, dividend income,
7-23 money appropriated by the legislature for authorized purposes of
7-24 the small business fund, amounts received by the state from loans,
7-25 loan guarantees, and equity investments made under this subchapter,
7-26 amounts received by the state from federal grants or other sources,
8-1 and any other amounts received under this subchapter and required
8-2 by resolution of the board to be deposited in the small business
8-3 fund. The small business fund contains a project account, an
8-4 interest and sinking account, and other accounts that the board
8-5 authorizes to be created and maintained. Money in the small
8-6 business fund is available for use by the board under this
8-7 subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
8-8 subchapter, any money in the small business fund may be used for
8-9 debt service.
8-10 (c) Money in the project account of the small business fund,
8-11 minus the costs of issuance of bonds under this subchapter and
8-12 necessary costs of administering the small business fund, may be
8-13 used only to provide financing to foster and stimulate the
8-14 development of small businesses in this state. The board shall
8-15 provide financing from the small business fund on the terms and
8-16 conditions that the board determines to be reasonable, appropriate,
8-17 and consistent with the purposes and objectives of the small
8-18 business fund and this subchapter, for the purpose of fostering and
8-19 stimulating the development of new or existing small businesses in
8-20 this state.
8-21 Sec. 403.413. ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS AND BUSINESSES; FINANCING.
8-22 (a) Financing may be made under this subchapter only for a product
8-23 or small business approved by the board.
8-24 (b) In determining eligible products and small businesses,
8-25 the board shall give special preference to products or businesses
8-26 in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine that have the
9-1 greatest likelihood of commercial success, job creation, and job
9-2 retention in this state. The board shall give further preference
9-3 to providing financing to projects or businesses that are:
9-4 (1) grantees under the small business innovation
9-5 research program established under 15 U.S.C. Section 638, as
9-6 amended;
9-7 (2) companies formed in this state to commercialize
9-8 research funded at least in part with state funds;
9-9 (3) applicants that have acquired other sources of
9-10 financing;
9-11 (4) companies formed in this state and receiving
9-12 assistance from designated state small business development
9-13 centers; or
9-14 (5) applicants who are residents of this state doing
9-15 business in this state and performing financed activities
9-16 predominantly in this state.
9-17 (c) The board shall adopt rules governing the terms and
9-18 conditions of the financing, specifically including requirements
9-19 for appropriate security or collateral, equity interest, and the
9-20 rights and remedies of the board and office in the event of a
9-21 default on the loan. The rules must include a requirement that
9-22 applicants report to the board on the use of money distributed
9-23 through either fund.
9-24 (d) Before approving the provision of financing to a person,
9-25 the board shall enter into an agreement with the person under which
9-26 the board will obtain an appropriate portion of royalties, patent
10-1 rights, equitable interests, or a combination of those royalties,
10-2 rights, and interests from or in the product or proceeds of the
10-3 product for which financing is requested. Contracts executed under
10-4 this subchapter must include agreements to ensure proper use of
10-5 funds and the receipt of royalties, patent rights, or equity
10-6 interest, as appropriate.
10-7 (e) The board may appoint an advisory committee of experts
10-8 in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine to review projects
10-9 and businesses seeking financing from the board.
10-10 (f) The amount of financing provided to a single recipient
10-11 may not exceed 10 percent of the total amount of bonds issued.
10-12 (g) A claim of the state for a payment owed to the state
10-13 under this subchapter by a person who has been provided financing
10-14 has priority over all other claims against the person.
10-15 Sec. 403.414. APPLICATION PROCESS. (a) To apply for
10-16 financing from the board, an applicant shall submit to the board:
10-17 (1) an application for financing on a form prescribed
10-18 by the board; and
10-19 (2) a reasonable application fee set by the board.
10-20 (b) The application must include a business plan, containing
10-21 the information required by the board, including at a minimum:
10-22 (1) information regarding:
10-23 (A) the history and financial condition of the
10-24 applicant, including the applicant's income statement;
10-25 (B) the applicant's present markets and market
10-26 prospects; and
11-1 (C) the integrity of the applicant's management;
11-2 (2) a statement of the feasibility of the product for
11-3 which financing is requested, including the state of development of
11-4 any product to be developed and the proposed schedule of its
11-5 commercialization; and
11-6 (3) if applicable, documentation of attempts to obtain
11-7 private financing.
11-8 (c) The board shall determine, with respect to each
11-9 application for financing, whether:
11-10 (1) the product or business for which financing is
11-11 requested is economically sound;
11-12 (2) there is a reasonable expectation that the product
11-13 or business will be successful;
11-14 (3) the product or business will create or preserve
11-15 jobs and otherwise benefit the economy of the state;
11-16 (4) the applicant has the management resources and
11-17 other funding to complete the project;
11-18 (5) financing is necessary because full financing is
11-19 unavailable in traditional capital markets or credit has been
11-20 offered on terms that would preclude the success of the project;
11-21 and
11-22 (6) there is reasonable assurance that the potential
11-23 revenues to be derived from the sale of the product will be
11-24 sufficient to repay any financing approved by the board.
11-25 (d) After considering the application and all other
11-26 information it considers relevant, the board shall approve or deny
12-1 the application and promptly notify the applicant of its decision.
12-2 Sec. 403.415. INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. (a) Information
12-3 described by Subsection (b) collected, assembled, or maintained by
12-4 or for the board is confidential and may not be disclosed by the
12-5 board, the comptroller, or the office.
12-6 (b) This section applies to information in any form provided
12-7 by or on behalf of an applicant for financing or a recipient of
12-8 financing under this subchapter, including information contained
12-9 in, accompanying, or derived from any application or report, that
12-10 relates to a product, to the development, application, manufacture,
12-11 or use of a product, or to the markets, market prospects, or
12-12 marketing of a product, and that is proprietary information of
12-13 actual or potential commercial value to the applicant or recipient
12-14 that has not been disclosed to the public. Confidential
12-15 information includes scientific and technological information,
12-16 including computer programs and software, and marketing and
12-17 business operation information, regardless of whether the product
12-18 to which the information relates is patentable or capable of being
12-19 registered under copyright or trademark laws or has a potential for
12-20 being sold, traded, or licensed for a fee. This section does not
12-21 make confidential information in an account, voucher, or contract
12-22 relating to the receipt or expenditure of public funds by the board
12-23 or the comptroller under this subchapter.
12-24 (c) Any application for financing that is withdrawn by the
12-25 applicant before approval or funding or that is denied by the board
12-26 shall be returned to the applicant promptly on request, together
13-1 with all materials submitted by or on behalf of the applicant that
13-2 relate to the application, except that the board may retain a
13-3 record of the submission and disposition of the application that
13-4 does not include any information described by Subsection (b).
13-5 Sec. 403.416. PROGRAM COORDINATION. The board and office
13-6 shall coordinate the administration and funding of the programs.
13-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
13-8 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
13-9 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
13-10 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
13-11 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.