BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                         H.B. 58

81R153 KEL-D                                                                                                 By: Branch (Averitt)

                                                                                                                                Higher Education

                                                                                                                                            5/11/2009

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The legislature created the Advanced Research Program (ARP) in 1985 when it added a line item called Advanced Technological Research Program for $35 million to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) budget in the General Appropriations Act.  Although the program lacked statutory authority, the rider directed THECB to use the funds for a competitive research grant program for emerging technology in “microelectronics, energy, telecommunications, aerospace, biotechnology, materials and other areas of science and technology that hold substantial promise of great benefit to the people of Texas.”  The rider limited the program to general academic teaching institutions and “another agency of higher education that has the demonstrated exceptional capability to attract federal, state and private funding of scientific and technical research and has an exceptionally strong research staff, equipment and facilities.”  No more than two-thirds of the funds may be awarded to The University of Texas and Texas A&M University.

 

By amending the definition of eligible institution, the purpose of H.B. 58 is to allow independent and private institutions of higher education to be eligible to compete for funds allocated to the ARP.

 

H.B. 58 amends current law relating to the eligibility of private or independent institutions of higher education to participate in the advanced research program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 142.001(3), Education Code, to redefine "eligible institution."

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.