Amend CSHB 708 (House Committee Report) by adding the 
following SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS 
accordingly:
	SECTION ____. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter I to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER I. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HURRICANE CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE 
TECHNOLOGY
	Sec. 111.121. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                          
		(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the University 
of Houston System.
		(2) "Center" means the University of Houston Hurricane 
Center for Innovative Technology (UHC-IT) established under this 
subchapter.
	Sec. 111.122. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The University of Houston 
Hurricane Center for Innovative Technology is established at the 
University of Houston.
	(b) The organization, control, and management of the center 
are vested in the board.
	(c) The center shall be hosted by the university's College of 
Engineering.  Participation in the center's activities shall be 
open to any faculty member of the university who is an active 
researcher in the field of materials, nanotechnology, structural 
engineering, designing of structures, or sensor technology, or in 
another relevant field as determined by the university.
	Sec. 111.123. PURPOSE. The center is created to:                        
		(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education, and 
training for the development of state-of-the-art products, 
materials, systems, and technologies designed to mitigate the wind, 
and asserted structural damages in the built environment and 
offshore structures caused by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region; 
and
		(2) develop protocols for the fast and efficient 
recovery of the public and private sectors, including utilities, 
hospitals, petrochemical industries, offshore platforms, and 
municipalities and other local communities following a hurricane.
	Sec. 111.124. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall:                      
		(1) collaborate with appropriate federal, state, and 
local agencies and private business or nonprofit entities as 
necessary to coordinate efforts after a hurricane in the Gulf Coast 
region;
		(2) develop smart materials and devices for use in 
hurricane protection and mitigation systems for structural 
monitoring;
		(3) develop anchor systems for window and door screens, 
dwellings and other buildings, pipelines, and other onshore and 
offshore structures to withstand hurricane wind damage;
		(4) develop test facilities for evaluating the 
performance of new products, materials, or techniques designed to 
protect against hurricane wind damage;
		(5) develop specifications and standards for products 
used for protecting against hurricane wind damage;
		(6) design buildings, houses, and other structures to 
withstand hurricane wind damage; and
		(9) provide hurricane-related educational programs, 
seminars, conferences, and workshops to the community designed to 
ensure safety, minimize loss of life, and mitigate the destruction 
of property associated with hurricane wind damage.
	Sec. 111.125. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The 
University of Houston shall encourage public and private entities 
to participate in or support the operation of the center and may 
enter into an agreement with any public or private entity for that 
purpose.  An agreement may allow the center to provide information, 
services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange for the 
entity's participation or support.
	Sec. 111.126. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit, 
accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private 
source for the purposes of the center.
	Sec. 111.127. PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel for 
the center as necessary.