Honorable Angie Chen Button, Chair, House Committee on Economic & Small Business Development
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3160 by Button (Relating to use of money from the Texas Enterprise Fund for certain projects involving the commercialization of property derived from research at or through institutions of higher education.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would amend Government Code relating to use of money from the Texas Enterprise Fund for certain projects involving the commercialization of property derived from research at or through institutions of higher education. The bill would authorize the Governor to provide grants to projects involving the commercialization of intellectual property or other property derived from research associated with an institution of higher education. Grant amounts could not exceed 50 percent of a project's total investment by the institution of higher education and private entities.
Based on the LBB's analysis of the Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
According to the University of Texas System and the Texas A&M University System, if grant awards were secured under this program, it is assumed there would be a favorable financial impact.
This bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Office of the Governor, there could be an impact to communities competing for projects with other states and countries if potential funding is diverted from local communities to support institutions of higher education.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 783 University of Houston System Administration