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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the participation of undergraduate students in funding |
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awarded under the advanced research program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 142.002, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 142.002. PURPOSE. The advanced research program is |
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established to encourage and provide support for basic research |
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conducted by faculty members and students in astronomy, atmospheric |
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science, biological and behavioral sciences, chemistry, computer |
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sciences, earth sciences, engineering, information science, |
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mathematics, material sciences, oceanography, physics, |
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environmental issues affecting the Texas-Mexico border region, the |
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reduction of industrial, agricultural, and domestic water use, |
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social sciences, and related disciplines in eligible institutions. |
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SECTION 2. Section 142.003, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) For each program year, the advisory committee shall |
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recommend to the coordinating board a percentage of available |
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program money to be used to fund projects in which undergraduate |
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students conduct or have a substantial role in conducting the |
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research. Not later than August 31 of each year, the coordinating |
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board shall determine the applicable amount of set-aside for the |
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program year and shall publish that amount on the board's website. |
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Money set aside under this subsection that, due to a lack of |
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qualified proposals, is not awarded as prescribed by this |
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subsection during the program year may be used to fund other |
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projects in the same program year or in a subsequent program year in |
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the same fiscal biennium. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |