Honorable Kyle Janek, Chair, Senate Committee on S/C on Emerging Technologies & Economic Dev.
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB486 by Shapiro (Relating to the Texas emerging technology fund.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill permits appropriated amounts from the Emerging Technology Fund be used for staff and administration of Emerging Technology Fund activities. The bill provides that funding for the administration of the Emerging Technology Fund not exceed the greater of 0.4 percent of the biennial appropriation for the Emerging Technology Fund or $600,000 per year. Currently, administration of the Emerging Technology Fund is funded using existing resources. Therefore, no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.
The bill changes from 25 percent to 16.67 percent the amount from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to be used to match funding from research sponsors. The bill changes from 25 percent to 33.33 percent the amount from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to be used to acquire new or enhance existing research superiority at public institutions of higher education. The bill provides that no more than 2.5 percent of the amount allocated for incentives for commercialization activities may be invested directly in a regional center of innovation and commercialization. No significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated as the bill redirects appropriated amounts.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
301 Office of the Governor, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board