By:  Swinford                                                     H.B. No. 2717



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the governor's study of emerging technology and 
economic development.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  (a)  The office of the governor shall conduct a 
study to:        
		(1)  review how states and countries with leading 
economies wholly or partly based on information, ideas, and 
technology have structured economic development programs to match 
the needs of businesses in this century;
		(2)  identify emerging technologies in this state's 
economy and the growth and development needs of the emerging 
technologies, including need related to existing and potential 
capital resources;
		(3)  identify laws and recommend changes in laws which 
have inadvertently or unnecessarily prevented industries, 
businesses, trades or professions from keeping pace with new 
developing or using new capabilities, or from applying existing 
capabilities, including capabilities related to specialized 
technological training.
		(4)  summarize and outline all existing tools and 
programs that are available under law to this state and political 
subdivisions of this state for encouraging economic development and 
emerging technology;
		(5)  outline the economic development functions and 
responsibilities of this state, members of the finance community, 
university and industry researchers, and others who have an 
interest in encouraging economic growth and opportunity in this 
state; and
		(6)  develop and recommend pilot programs to implement 
and test study recommendations.
	(b)  The governor shall report the results of the study 
conducted under Subsection (a), together with recommendations for 
statutory changes, to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the 
house of representatives, and the members of the 80th Legislature 
not later than December 1, 2006.
	SECTION 2.  This Act expires September 1, 2007.                                
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.