LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 17, 2009

TO:	Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1600 by Watson (Relating to the creation of a database to track specialized technology research projects conducted by public universities, public university research facilities, and other state institutions.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Under provisions of the bill, the Higher Education Coordinating Board would be required to create a statewide specialized technology research database of projects being performed at institutions of higher education or other agencies.  Institutions will be required to provide detailed information to the Coordinating Board regarding their projects’ technology, expert faculty, technology developed and patents gained, location of equipment, and policies for utilization of that equipment. The Higher Education Coordinating Board could, through a memorandum of understanding, work in conjunction with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office in collecting data for and maintaining the database. Any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

301 Office of the Governor, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices

LBB Staff:

JOB, KK, RT, GO, BTA, JRO