AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The importance of research in society cannot be underestimated.  Legislators, business people, and educators all make decisions based on research, which means that research findings have an enormous impact on communities.  Therefore, the reliability of research must be ensured.

 

Many Texas institutions of higher education perform scientific and social research and publish reports of research results.  Funding for such reports can come from a variety of sources, such as private corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit agencies.  To maintain the integrity of these research reports, the potential conflict of interest that can arise from this funding relationship must be addressed.  Further, since research performed by institutions of higher education often carries with it a certain level of credibility, a funding relationship that is fully disclosed to avoid any appearance of impropriety must be ensured.

 

As introduced, S.B. 1304 amends the Education Code to require institutions of higher education to disclose payments for reports.  This bill requires that institutions of higher education that receive payment from another entity to conduct research and prepare a report of that work to include in the report a statement disclosing the funding entity and the amount of the payment.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1304 amends current law relating to requiring financial disclosure concerning reports prepared by public institutions of higher education for other entities.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.955, as follows:

 

Sec. 51.955.  REQUIRED DISCLOSURE OF PAYMENT FOR REPORTS.  Requires an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), 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 to include in the report:

 

(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.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.