83R2859 MTB-F

By: Gonzales H.B. No. 664

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of an entrepreneur-in-residence program in the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office.

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

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act of 2013.

SECTION 2. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Q to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER Q. ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

Sec. 481.221. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Entrepreneur-in-residence" means an individual appointed to a position under the program.

(2) "Program" means the entrepreneur-in-residence program established under this subchapter.

(3) "State agency" means a board, commission, department, office, or other agency in the executive branch of state government created under the constitution or a statute of this state, including an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Sec. 481.222. ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM. (a) The entrepreneur-in-residence program is established in the office.

(b) The purpose of the program is to:

(1) provide for better outreach by state government to the private sector;

(2) strengthen coordination and interaction between state government and the private sector on issues relevant to small business concerns and entrepreneurs; and

(3) make state government programs simpler, easier to access, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of small business concerns and entrepreneurs.

Sec. 481.223. APPOINTMENTS. (a) The governor or the governor's designee may appoint not more than 10 entrepreneurs-in-residence to state agencies during each fiscal year.

(b) A person appointed under this section may not serve more than two years.

(c) To be eligible for appointment under the program, an individual must:

(1) be successful in the individual's field;

(2) have demonstrated success in working with small business concerns and entrepreneurs; or

(3) have successfully developed, invented, or created a product and brought the product to the marketplace.

(d) Appointments under the program must be made in conformance with the office's policy adopted under Section 481.010(f).

(e) In appointing entrepreneurs-in-residence, the governor or the governor's designee shall:

(1) give priority to placing entrepreneurs-in-residence across state government at separate state agencies; and

(2) to the extent practicable, appoint not more than two entrepreneurs-in-residence to the same state agency during the same fiscal year.

(f) An entrepreneur-in-residence is a full-time employee of the state agency to which the entrepreneur-in-residence is appointed.

Sec. 481.224. DUTIES. (a) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall:

(1) assist the office and state agencies in improving outreach to small business concerns and entrepreneurs;

(2) provide recommendations to the office and the head of the state agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on inefficient or duplicative programs, if any, at the state agency;

(3) provide recommendations to the office and the head of the state agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on methods to improve program efficiency at the state agency or new initiatives, if any, that may be instituted at the state agency;

(4) facilitate meetings and forums to educate small business concerns and entrepreneurs on programs or initiatives of the office and the state agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence;

(5) facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the office and the state agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on issues of concern to small business concerns and entrepreneurs; and

(6) provide technical assistance or mentorship to small business concerns and entrepreneurs in accessing programs at the office and the state agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence.

(b) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly to the head of the state agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence.

Sec. 481.225. WORK GROUP. The governor or the governor's designee may establish an informal work group of entrepreneurs-in-residence to discuss best practices, experiences, obstacles, opportunities, and recommendations relating to the program.

Sec. 481.226. EXPIRATION. (a) The governor or the governor's designee may not make an appointment under this subchapter after September 30, 2016.

(b) This subchapter expires September 30, 2018.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.