S.B. No. 458
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the aerospace and aviation office of the Texas Economic
  Development and Tourism Office and to the aerospace and aviation
  advisory committee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 481.0066, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections (d-1),
  (d-2), (e-1), and (e-2) to read as follows:
         (d)  The aerospace and aviation office shall:
               (1)  analyze space-related and aviation-related
  research currently conducted in this state and may conduct
  activities designed to further that research;
               (2)  analyze the state's economic position in the
  aerospace and aviation industries;
               (3)  develop short-term and long-term business
  strategies as part of an industry-specific strategic plan to
  promote the retention, development, and expansion of aerospace and
  aviation industry facilities in the state that is consistent with
  and complementary of the office strategic plan;
               (4)  make specific recommendations to the legislature
  and the governor regarding the promotion of those industries;
               (5)  as part of and to further the purposes of the
  industry-specific strategic plan described by Subdivision (3),
  develop short-term and long-term policy initiatives or recommend
  reforms the state may undertake or implement to:
                     (A)  increase investment in aerospace and
  aviation activities;
                     (B)  support the retention, development, and
  expansion of spaceports in this state;
                     (C)  identify and encourage educational,
  economic, and defense-related opportunities for aerospace and
  aviation activities;
                     (D)  determine the appropriate level of funding
  for the spaceport trust fund created under Section 481.0069 and
  support ongoing projects that have been assisted by the fund,
  including recommending to the legislature an appropriate funding
  level for the fund;
                     (E)  partner with the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board to foster technological advancement and
  economic development for spaceport activities by strengthening
  higher education programs and supporting aerospace activities; and
                     (F)  partner with the Texas Workforce Commission
  to support initiatives that address the high technology skills and
  staff resources needed to better promote the state's efforts in
  becoming the leading space exploration state in the nation;
               (6)  act as a liaison with other state and federal
  entities with related economic, educational, and defense
  responsibilities to support the marketing of the state's aerospace
  and aviation capabilities;
               (7) [(6)]  provide technical support and expertise to
  the state and to local spaceport authorities regarding aerospace
  and aviation business matters; and
               (8) [(7)]  be responsible for the promotion and
  development of spaceports in this state.
         (d-1)  The aerospace and aviation office shall make specific
  short-term and long-term statutory, administrative, and
  budget-related recommendations to the legislature and the governor
  regarding the policy initiatives and reforms described by
  Subsection (d)(5) that may be implemented by the state.  The
  short-term recommendations must include a plan for state action for
  implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2017.  The
  initiatives and reforms in the short-term plan must be fully
  implemented by September 1, 2020.  The long-term recommendations
  must include a plan for state action for implementation beginning
  not later than September 1, 2020.  The initiatives and reforms in
  the long-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2025.  
  The aerospace and aviation office shall submit these
  recommendations to the legislature and governor with the biennial
  report required by Subsection (d-2) not later than December 1,
  2016.  This subsection expires September 1, 2017.
         (d-2)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the aerospace and aviation office shall submit to the legislature
  and governor, in printed or electronic form, a report detailing the
  actions taken by the aerospace and aviation office in carrying out
  the policy initiatives and reforms under Subsection (d)(5) to
  further the purposes of the industry-specific strategic plan as
  specified in the recommendations required by Subsection (d-1),
  including:
               (1)  the status of all projects and activities;
               (2)  the funding of expenditures;
               (3)  a summary of work performed as part of the
  aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board, including a summary prepared by the
  board of the research conducted by public senior colleges or
  universities, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
               (4)  a summary of work performed as part of the
  aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas
  Workforce Commission; and
               (5)  an explanation of the ways in which the aerospace
  and aviation office has promoted the state's economic development
  goals through increased space exploration activities.
         (e)  The governor shall appoint an aerospace and aviation
  advisory committee consisting of:
               (1)  seven qualified members to assist in the state's
  economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and
  aviation jobs and investment; and
               (2)  one member for each active spaceport development
  corporation in the state who represents the interests of each
  respective spaceport development corporation.
         (e-1)  The aerospace and aviation advisory committee shall:
               (1)  advise the governor on the recruitment and
  retention of aerospace and aviation jobs and investment;
               (2)  assist the office and the aerospace and aviation
  office in meeting the state's economic development efforts to
  recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investment;
               (3)  advise the office, the aerospace and aviation
  office, and the governor on an appropriate funding level for the
  spaceport trust fund;
               (4)  advise the office, the aerospace and aviation
  office, and the governor on recruitment, retention, and expansion
  of aerospace and aviation industry activities; and
               (5)  collect and disseminate information on federal,
  state, local, and private community economic development programs
  that assist or provide loans, grants, or other funding to aerospace
  and aviation industry activities.
         (e-2)  Members of the aerospace and aviation advisory 
  committee:
               (1)  shall serve staggered four-year terms; and
               (2)  may not receive compensation for serving on the
  committee.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The terms of the current members of the
  aerospace and aviation advisory committee expire on the effective
  date of this Act.  On that date or as soon as possible after that
  date, the governor shall appoint new members to the aerospace and
  aviation advisory committee in accordance with the requirements of
  Section 481.0066(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act.
         (b)  A member of the aerospace and aviation advisory
  committee serving immediately before the effective date of this Act
  is eligible for reappointment to the committee if the person has the
  qualifications for a member under Section 481.0066(e), Government
  Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 458 passed the Senate on
  April 16, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 458 passed the House on
  May 8, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 124, Nays 10, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor