Honorable Bob Deuell, Chair, Senate Committee on Economic Development
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3162 by Davis, John (Relating to the Texas emerging technology fund; redesignating the fund as the Texas Research Technology Fund.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to: change the name of and all refernces to the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to the Texas Research Technology Fund (TRTF); change the name of the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee to the Texas Research Technology Fund Board (board); administratively attach the board to the office of the governor; reduce the number of members of the board from 17 to 15; alter the number of members that can be nominated by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives, respectively; provide provisions for the nomination and compensation of board members, and the duration of their term served; require the board to develop and implement policies separating its responsibilities from those of its staff; and require and provide provisions for certain meetings to be held by the board.
The bill would: amend the eligibility requirements for TRTF industry participants and require certain information to be included in the TRTF annual report; provide provisions for that which is to be considered confidential and that which is to be considered public information during the process of reviewing an application for a TRTF grant; require for the commercialization grants awarded by the governor to be approved by the board instead of the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives; alter the composition of the TRTF and its allocation of funds, including the use of funds for regional centers of innovation and commercialization; require regional centers of innovation and commercialization to make recommendations for the award of money from the TRTF for commercialization grants; allow for the TRTF to compensate a board-selected fund manager to be hired or contracted out by the office of the governor; require the TRTF fund manager to perform certain duties; and require the regional centers of innovation and commercialization to report certain information in meeting minutes.
The bill would repeal Government Code, Sections 490.054(b), 490.056(e), and 490.153(b) related to board member terms and duties and the use of the TRTF on regional centers of innovation and commercialization.
The bill would provide a date of expiration for the current members of the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee and the manner in which the terms of the new members of the board shall be established.
The Office of the Governor indicates there would be a minimal cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill if the TRTF fund manager and related personnel hired by the office were to be full-time equivalent employees of the state; however, the Office of the Governor indicates there would be a significant cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill if the office were to contract out the TRTF fund manager.
This bill would take on September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.