By:  Howard                                                       H.B. No. 2771



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the acceleration of energy research and development.              
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter DD to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 125.  ENERGY DEVELOPMENT                                               
	Sec. 481.460.  (a)  The department shall provide funds from 
the Economic Stabilization Fund as defined by Art. III, Sec. 49.G of 
the Texas Constitution for use as matching funds for the purpose of 
assisting and accelerating the development of the Texas Energy 
Center.  The funding schedule for acceleration of the Energy Center 
is as follows:
		(1)  up to $400,000 until January 1, 2004;                                    
		(2)  up to $1.2 million from January 1, 2004 through 
December 31, 2004; and 
		(3)  up to $2 million from January 1, 2005 through 
December 31, 2005.       
	(b)  The department shall provide up to $2.5 million from the 
Economic Stabilization Fund for use as matching funds for the 
purpose of attracting the federal program for ultra-deep and 
onshore unconventional natural gas research and development to be 
administered by the Energy Center.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.