BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3161
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the Governor is required to have the approval of only the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before awarding money from the Texas Enterprise Fund. An advisory committee already exists for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund that evaluates applications and recommends awards, but the advisory committee's recommendations are not binding on the Governor. Consequently, the structure of the Enterprise and Emerging Technology Funds allows for little input from stakeholders throughout the entire state.
H.B. 3161 creates an advisory committee for the Texas Enterprise Fund and states that a recommendation from the advisory committees for both the Enterprise and Emerging Technology Funds is a requirement for the receipt of an award. H.B. 3161 will require the Governor to get the approval of the advisory committees to help ensure that stakeholders are part of the awards process for these funds. This will ensure that all areas of the state benefit from the economic development that awards from the funds bring.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 481.078, Government Code, by amending Subsection (e), which requires the Governor to receive the approval of the advisory committee before awarding money from the Texas Enterprise Fund. It also adds Subsection (k), which requires the Governor to appoint an advisory committee to recommend awards from the Texas Enterprise Fund, requires that each region of the state be equally represented on the advisory committee, and provides for two-year terms of office for the committee members, subject to the pleasure of the Governor.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 490.052, Government Code, by adding Subsection (e), which requires the Governor consider whether each region within the state is fairly represented on the Texas Emerging Technology Fund advisory committee.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 490.056, Government Code, by adding Subsection (c), which requires the Governor to receive the approval of the advisory committee before awarding money from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.
SECTION 4. Requires the Governor to appoint the advisory committee for the Texas Enterprise Fund by or on January 1, 2008. Provides that H.B. 3161 only applies to a grant awarded from the Texas Enterprise Fund on or after January 1, 2008.
SECTION 5. Provides that H.B. 3161 only applies to grants awarded from the Emerging Technology Fund on or after the effective date for this Act.
SECTION 6. States the effective date for this Act.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.