84(R) HB 1295 - Enrolled version

TO:	Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives

FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1295 by Capriglione (Relating to the disclosure of interested parties by persons contracting with governmental entities and state agencies.), As Passed 2nd House

The bill would amend the Education Code to require institutions of higher education to disclose upon public request data generated or produced in the course of executing research supported by appropriated funds. The institutions would not be required to disclose personal identifying information but would be required to disclose all information which is not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by law.

Some higher education system offices indicated that the disclosure of research data could impact intellectual property revenue and could result in a significant loss in competitively sponsored awards due to concerns about an institution's ability to ensure the protection of a sponsoring entity's data. No significant fiscal impact to state funds is expected, however, the impact on research activities and intellectual property revenue at institutions of higher education could be significant.

The bill would amend the Government Code to require state agencies and governmental entities, including school districts and local governments, to collect and disclose to the Texas Ethics Commission a list of interested parties for certain contracts. Agencies estimate that the costs to implement this process and collect the required data could be absorbed within existing resources and the bill would have no significant fiscal impact.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


May 27, 2015