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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Emerging Technology Fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 490, Government Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
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Sec. 490.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE. The Texas Emerging |
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Technology Advisory Committee is composed of 15 17 members. |
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Sec. 490.052. APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEE; NOMINATIONS. (a) |
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The governor shall appoint to the committee five 13 individuals |
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nominated as provided by Subsection (b). |
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(a-1) The lieutenant governor shall appoint five two |
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individuals to the committee. |
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(a-2) The speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint five two individuals to the committee. |
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(b) The following persons may nominate one or more |
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individuals who are industry leaders in this state or who are |
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nationally recognized leaders from public or private institutions |
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of higher education in this state for appointment to the committee: |
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(1) a president of a public or private institution of |
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higher education in this state; |
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(2) a representative of the governor's office involved |
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in economic development activities; |
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(3) a representative of the lieutenant governor's |
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office involved in economic development activities; |
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(4) a representative of the office of the speaker of |
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the house involved in economic development activities; and |
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(5) other persons considered appropriate by the |
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governor. |
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(c) The governor may prescribe a date after which a |
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nomination under Subsection (b) for appointment for the next term |
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will not be considered. |
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(d) If an insufficient number of qualified individuals are |
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nominated as provided by Subsection (b) before the date set by the |
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governor under Subsection (c), the governor, lieutenant governor, |
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or speaker of the house may appoint any qualified individual to the |
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board for that term. |
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Sec. 490.053. PRESIDING MEMBER. The governor, lieutenant |
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governor, and speaker of the house shall, in turn, appoint a |
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presiding member of the committee. The selection of the presiding |
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member will rotate between the governor, lieutenant governor, and |
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speaker of the house, and each presiding member chosen will serve a |
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two-year term. |
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Sec. 490.054. TERMS. (a) Members of the committee |
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appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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house serve staggered two-year terms, subject to the pleasure of |
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the appointing entity governor. |
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(b)
Members of the committee appointed by the lieutenant
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governor or the speaker of the house of representatives serve
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two-year terms.
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Sec. 490.055. STAFF AND FUNDING. Necessary staff and |
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funding for the administration of the fund shall be provided by: |
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(1) the office of the governor; and |
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(2) gifts, grants, and donations for overhead expenses |
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to the office of the governor; and |
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(3) the advisory committee shall hire a fund manager |
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for the purpose of maintaining the Subchapter D grants. |
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Sec. 490.056. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING. (a) The fund |
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manager, with the advice of the regional centers of innovation and |
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commercialization, committee shall make recommendations, through
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peer review and evaluation processes established by the advisory
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committee, to the advisory board governor, lieutenant governor, and
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speaker of the house of representatives for the award of money from |
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the fund as provided by this chapter. |
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(b) The committee may establish advisory panels of |
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knowledgeable individuals from industry, state government, or |
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academic occupations to assist in peer review activities under this |
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chapter. The final award will be made by the advisory board. |
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This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |