BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1047

By: Jackson

Economic & Small Business Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that an innovation and commercialization center located at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration should be eligible to apply for funds administered by the emerging technology fund.  S.B. 1047 seeks to address this issue relating to such eligibility.

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

S.B. 1047 amends the Government Code to define "research institution," for purposes relating to the Texas emerging technology fund, to mean a public institution of higher education or an innovation and commercialization organization associated with the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The bill requires money allocated from the fund to be reserved for incentives for private or nonprofit entities to collaborate with research institutions in this state or private institutions of higher education in this state, rather than public or private institutions of higher education in this state, on emerging technology projects with a demonstrable economic benefit to the state. The bill requires amounts allocated from the fund to be used to acquire new or enhance existing research superiority at research institutions in this state, rather than public institutions of higher education in this state.

S.B. 1047 replaces references to an institution of higher education or public institution of higher education, as applicable, with references to a research institution in provisions of law establishing employment that is considered "research superiority" as it is defined under the Texas emerging technology fund; requiring the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee to review and consider proposals for research superiority funding; establishing prohibited activities regarding research superiority funding; and requiring the documentation of benefits to the state expected as a result of attracting research superiority.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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