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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an interim study on the creation of a data collection to |
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track specialized technology research projects conducted by public |
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universities, public university research facilities, and other |
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state institutions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. INTERIM STUDY REGARDING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH DATA |
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COLLECTION. (a) A select interim committee is created to study the |
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feasibility of collecting data and maintaining a searchable |
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electronic database, search engine, or other collection of data |
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(data collection) relating to specialized technology research |
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projects that are developed or conducted at public universities in |
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this state, research facilities of public universities in this |
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state, or other facilities operated by a state agency, in order to |
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facilitate coordination among the universities and facilities on |
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the projects and improve access to and awareness of the specialized |
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research and technologies developed at those institutions and |
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facilities. |
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(b) The study must consider: |
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(1) appropriate entities to administer the data |
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collection, including nonprofit organizations, public universities |
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in this state, or state agencies; |
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(2) the extent of legislative oversight required for |
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an entity that would maintain the data collection; |
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(3) compliance with state and federal laws regarding |
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access to public information; and |
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(4) the information the data collection would include, |
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such as: |
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(A) a list of projects involving one or more of |
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the following areas: |
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(i) energy research, including methods of |
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creation, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy; |
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(ii) biomedical science research; |
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(iii) nanotechnology research, including |
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nanomedicine; and |
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(iv) other specialized technology |
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research; |
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(B) for each project listed under Paragraph (A), |
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a brief description of the project, including the field of |
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technology involved, the entity involved with the project, and |
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additional comments regarding the research the board considers |
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appropriate; and |
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(C) other relevant information and available |
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resources in this state relating to specialized technology |
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research, including: |
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(i) expert faculty or research personnel; |
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(ii) available technology and patents |
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obtained; |
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(iii) the location of and policies for the |
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use of available research equipment; and |
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(iv) public grants or contracts awarded. |
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(c) The study shall examine the current state of access to |
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public information about specialized technology research projects |
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and shall assess the best methods of facilitating access to the |
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information. In addition, the study shall consider what information |
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should be accessible by the general public and what information, if |
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any, should have restricted access. |
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(d) The committee shall be composed of: |
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(1) representatives of the following institutions, |
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with one member named by each institution: The University of Texas |
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at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the |
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University of Houston, the University of North Texas, The |
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University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at |
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Dallas, The University of Texas at El Paso, and The University of |
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Texas at San Antonio; and |
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(2) a number of members appointed by the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board as the coordinating board considers |
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appropriate to represent the coordinating board, data collection |
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providers, and the technology industry. |
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(e) On the request of the committee, a general academic |
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institution of higher education, research facility of a general |
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academic institution of higher education, or other facility |
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operated by a state agency shall provide to the board or advisory |
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committee any information necessary for the board or advisory |
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committee to perform its duties under this section. |
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SECTION 2. COMMITTEE REPORT. Not later than December 1, |
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2010, the committee shall report the committee's findings and |
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recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the governor. The committee shall |
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include in its recommendations specific legislation that the |
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committee considers desirable to address the need for and |
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feasibility of establishing a data collection as determined by the |
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committee's findings. |
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SECTION 3. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The committee is |
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abolished and this Act expires January 16, 2011. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |