BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2631

By: Branch

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The advanced research program was created over two decades ago to serve as a statewide basic research grant program. Since its inception, the program has awarded numerous grants for research projects in mathematics and the sciences. The program has also undergone changes that are not currently reflected in statute.

H.B. 2631 seeks to update the statute to reflect those changes.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2631 amends the Education Code to redesignate the advanced research program established to encourage and provide support for basic research conducted by faculty members and students in certain disciplines in eligible institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education as the Norman Hackerman advanced research program and to make conforming changes to reflect this redesignation. The bill removes a provision authorizing the total funds appropriated to the program to be at least equal to 10 percent of the average amount of the federally sponsored research funds allocated to all institutions of higher education annually during the preceding three years.

H.B. 2631 repeals Section 142.004(b), Education Code, a provision requiring the comptroller of public accounts to issue warrants to each eligible institution in the amount certified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to the comptroller from funds appropriated for the program. The bill makes a nonsubstantive change.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.