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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of money in the spaceport trust fund for |
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programs related to the aerospace industry. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 481.0069, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections (e-1) and |
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(e-2) to read as follows: |
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(d) Money in the spaceport trust fund may not be spent |
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unless the office certifies to the comptroller: |
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(1) that: |
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(A) [(1)] a viable business entity has been |
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established that: |
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(i) [(A)] has a business plan that |
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demonstrates that the entity has available the financial, |
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managerial, and technical expertise and capability necessary to |
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launch and land a reusable launch vehicle; and |
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(ii) [(B)] has committed to locating its |
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facilities at a spaceport in this state; |
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(B) [(2)] a development corporation for |
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spaceport facilities created under Chapter 507, Local Government |
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Code, has established a development plan for the spaceport project |
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and has secured at least 90 percent of the funding required for the |
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project; and |
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(C) [(3)] the spaceport or launch operator has |
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obtained the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration license; |
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or |
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(2) that the money will be used to pay for programs |
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described by Subsection (e)(2). |
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(e) Money in the spaceport trust fund may be used only: |
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(1) to pay expenditures for the development of |
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infrastructure necessary or useful for establishing a spaceport; or |
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(2) to fund programs related to research conducted |
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onboard the International Space Station, including a program that |
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provides money, subject to Subsection (e-1), to a nonprofit |
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organization to support that research, if the organization: |
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(A) is formed in this state; |
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(B) has a Space Act agreement with the National |
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Aeronautics and Space Administration; and |
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(C) has the authority to use the capabilities of |
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the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the aerospace |
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industry, and institutions of higher education. |
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(e-1) A nonprofit organization described by Subsection |
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(e)(2) shall use any money received under this section to support |
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the research described by that subdivision in collaboration with: |
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(1) companies formed in this state; or |
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(2) public-private partnerships. |
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(e-2) The office may contract with a development |
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corporation for spaceport facilities for the infrastructure |
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development. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |