Amend CSSB 73 (Senate committee printing) as follows: (1) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 156.001, Education Code (page 1, between lines 23 and 24), insert the following new Subdivision (2) and renumber subsequent subdivisions of that section appropriately: (2) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee appointed under Section 156.006. (2) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 156.006, Education Code (page 2, lines 52-56), strike Subsection (a) and substitute the following: (a) An advisory committee is established to make recommendations based on prevailing international best practices in adult stem cell research to assist the research oversight committee in performing its duties. The research oversight committee shall consult with the advisory committee to develop grant and loan application procedures for research proposals submitted by consortium participants. (3) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Chapter 156, Education Code (page 2, between lines 67 and 68), insert the following: Sec. 156.007. PEER REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA. (a) The advisory committee shall establish procedures and criteria for peer review of applications for grants and loans for proposed research projects consistent with national and international standards, including the enhanced review criteria for the evaluation of research applications received for potential funding in fiscal year 2010 and the associated scoring procedures used by the National Institutes of Health. The advisory committee shall establish conflict of interest standards regarding peer reviewers consistent with 42 C.F.R. Section 52h.5. (b) The advisory committee shall select reviewers for the peer review process based on a reviewer's training and experience in relevant scientific, medical, or technical fields, taking into account: (1) the formal scientific or technical education completed; (2) relevant research engaged in by the person, including whether the person was the principal researcher; (3) any awards, honors, or other recognition received from scientific, professional, and medical organizations; and (4) the need to include experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, medical, or technical fields. (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), not more than 50 percent of the peer reviewers for an application may be residents of this state. (d) A peer reviewer is not an officer or employee of this state. (4) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 156.007, Education Code (page 3, lines 17-25), strike Subsection (b) and substitute the following: (b) The research oversight committee shall refer all grant and loan applications to the advisory committee for competitive, peer review evaluation of the medical, scientific, and technical merits of the proposed research project. The advisory committee shall, giving consideration to the substance and results of peer review of individual research project proposals, recommend to the research oversight committee acceptance or rejection of an individual grant or loan application. (5) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 156.007(d), Education Code (page 3, line 33), between "writing" and "and", insert "not later than the 14th day after the date of the decision". (6) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Chapter 156, Education Code, renumber sections and correct cross-references appropriately (page 2, line 68, and page 3, lines 34, 37, 41, and 47).