By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 1603

(In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2009; March 17, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; May 14, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 1; May 14, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1603 By: West

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring financial disclosure concerning reports prepared by public institutions of higher education for other entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.955 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.955. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE OF PAYMENT FOR REPORTS. (a) An institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, that receives payment from another entity to conduct research, analysis, a survey, or other academic, scientific, or technical work and prepare a report of that work shall, not later than December 1 of each year, report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the following:

(1) a statement that the institution received payment to conduct the work and prepare the report;

(2) the identity of the entity providing the payment; and

(3) the amount of the payment.

(b) The coordinating board shall make the information provided by an institution of higher education in the institution's annual report available to the public on the coordinating board's Internet website. The coordinating board by rule shall establish criteria for excluding information from the website that relates to an issue of national security, and may not make that information available to the public on the website.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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