Amend CSHB 51 by adding the following appropriately 
numbered SECTIONs to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONs 
appropriately:
	SECTION ____.  INTERIM STUDY REGARDING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 
DATA COLLECTION.  (a)  A select interim committee is created to 
study the feasibility of collecting data and maintaining a 
searchable electronic database, search engine, or other collection 
of data (data collection) relating to specialized technology 
research projects that are developed or conducted at public 
universities in this state, research facilities of public 
universities in this state, or other facilities operated by a state 
agency, in order to facilitate coordination among the universities 
and facilities on the projects and improve access to and awareness 
of the specialized research and technologies developed at those 
institutions and facilities.
	(b)  The study must consider:                                                  
		(1)  appropriate entities to administer the data 
collection, including nonprofit organizations, public universities 
in this state, or state agencies;
		(2)  the extent of legislative oversight required for 
an entity that would maintain the data collection;
		(3)  compliance with state and federal laws regarding 
access to public information; and
		(4)  the information the data collection would include, 
such as:            
			(A)  a list of projects involving one or more of 
the following areas:      
				(i)  energy research, including methods of 
creation, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy;
				(ii)  biomedical science research, 
including research that involves stem cells or human cloning;
				(iii)  nanotechnology research, including 
nanomedicine; and               
				(iv)  other specialized technology 
research;                              
			(B)  for each project listed under Paragraph (A) 
of this subdivision, a brief description of the project, including 
the field of technology involved, the entity involved with the 
project, and additional comments regarding the research the Texas 
Higher Education Coordinating Board considers appropriate; and
			(C)  other relevant information and available 
resources in this state relating to specialized technology 
research, including:
				(i)  expert faculty or research personnel;                                  
				(ii)  available technology and patents 
obtained;                          
				(iii)  the location of and policies for the 
use of available research equipment;
				(iv)  public grants or contracts awarded; 
and                             
				(v)  the process through which any stem 
cells and stem cell lines utilized were derived.
	(c)  The study shall examine the current state of access to 
public information about specialized technology research projects 
and shall assess the best methods of facilitating access to the 
information.  In addition, the study shall consider what 
information should be accessible by the general public and what 
information, if any, should have restricted access.
	(d)  The committee shall be composed of:                                       
		(1)  representatives of the following institutions, 
with one member named by each institution:  The University of Texas 
at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the 
University of Houston, the University of North Texas, The 
University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at 
Dallas, The University of Texas at El Paso, and The University of 
Texas at San Antonio; and
		(2)  a number of members appointed by the Texas Higher 
Education Coordinating Board as the coordinating board considers 
appropriate to represent the coordinating board, data collection 
providers, and the technology industry.
	(e)  On the request of the committee, a general academic 
institution of higher education, research facility of a general 
academic institution of higher education, or other facility 
operated by a state agency shall provide to the Texas Higher 
Education Coordinating Board or advisory committee any information 
necessary for the board or advisory committee to perform its duties 
under this section.
	SECTION ____.  COMMITTEE REPORT.  Not later than December 1, 
2010, the committee shall report the committee's findings and 
recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the 
house of representatives, and the governor.  The committee shall 
include in its recommendations specific legislation that the 
committee considers desirable to address the need for and 
feasibility of establishing a data collection as determined by the 
committee's findings.
	SECTION ____.  ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE.  The committee is 
abolished and this Act expires January 16, 2011.
	SECTION ____.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2009.