82R9081 DAK-D

By: Jackson S.B. No. 1047

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of an innovation and commercialization organization associated with the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center to receive funding from the Texas emerging technology fund.

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

SECTION 1. Section 490.001, Government Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:

(5) "Research institution" means:

(A) a public institution of higher education; or

(B) an innovation and commercialization organization associated with the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

SECTION 2. Section 490.151(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Amounts allocated from the fund for use as provided by this subchapter shall be reserved for incentives for private or nonprofit entities to collaborate with research institutions in this state [public] or private institutions of higher education in this state on emerging technology projects with a demonstrable economic benefit to this state.

SECTION 3. Section 490.152(d), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) Subject to the availability of suitable partners and resources, the committee shall propose and initiate the establishment of a regional center of innovation and commercialization [in]:

(1) in Harris County;

(2) in Lubbock County;

(3) in Bexar County;

(4) in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex;

(5) in El Paso County;

(6) in the Middle and Lower Rio Grande Valley; [and]

(7) at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and

(8) in other suitable locations as determined by the governor in consultation with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives.

SECTION 4. Section 490.251, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 490.251. USE OF MONEY FOR ACQUISITION OF RESEARCH SUPERIORITY. Amounts allocated from the fund for use as provided by this subchapter shall be used to acquire new or enhance existing research superiority at research [public] institutions [of higher education] in this state.

SECTION 5. Section 490.252, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 490.252. RESEARCH SUPERIORITY. For purposes of this subchapter, the employment by a research [an] institution [of higher education] of one or more world-class or nationally recognized researchers and associated assistants in an industry eligible to receive funding under Section 490.003 is considered "research superiority."

SECTION 6. Section 490.253(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The committee shall review and consider proposals by research [public] institutions [of higher education] for:

(1) creating new research superiority;

(2) attracting existing research superiority from institutions not located in this state and other research entities; or

(3) enhancing existing research superiority by attracting from outside this state additional researchers and resources.

SECTION 7. Section 490.256(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A research [An] institution [of higher education] may not knowingly attempt to attract an individual key researcher or research superiority identified for consideration for funding by another research institution in this state or a [public or] private institution of higher education in this state under this subchapter.

SECTION 8. Section 490.257(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A research [public] institution [of higher education] must document specific benefits that this state may expect to gain as a result of attracting the research superiority before the institution may enter into a contract to receive funding or incentives under this subchapter.

SECTION 9. 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, 2011.