By: Thompson of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 15
        (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst, Alvarado, Gutierrez)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 28, 2021;
  May 10, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 22, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0;
  May 22, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 15 By:  Blanco
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of the Texas brain university research
  initiative.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter OO to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER OO. TEXAS BRAIN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE
         Sec. 61.9971.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Advisory board" means the Texas brain university
  research initiative advisory board.
               (2)  "Distinguished researcher" means a researcher who
  is an expert in:
                     (A)  the causes of and prevention, treatment,
  rehabilitation, and cures for brain-related diseases, syndromes,
  disorders, dysfunction, injuries, developmental issues,
  neurological health issues, mental and behavioral health issues,
  and substance abuse disorders and other addictions; or
                     (B)  any other area impacting the brain, including
  an area that directly or indirectly impacts or is impacted by the
  brain or brain health, such as the gut microbiome, nutrition, and
  the spinal cord or nervous system.
               (3)  "Eligible institution" means a general academic
  teaching institution or health-related institution.
               (4)  "Fund" means the Texas brain university research
  initiative fund established under this subchapter.
               (5)  "Health-related institution" means a medical and
  dental unit and any other public health science center, public
  medical school, or public dental school established by statute or
  in accordance with this chapter.
         Sec. 61.9972.  ADMINISTRATION OF INITIATIVE. (a) The Texas
  brain university research initiative is administered by the board.
         (b)  From the Texas brain university research initiative
  fund, the board shall award matching grants to assist eligible
  institutions in recruiting distinguished researchers.
         (c)  The board may adopt any rules the board considers
  necessary to administer this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9973.  MATCHING GRANTS. (a) An eligible
  institution may apply to the board for a matching grant from the
  fund. Before approval or disapproval of a grant application, the
  board shall consider the recommendation of the advisory board
  regarding the grant proposal. If the board approves a grant
  application, the board shall award to the applicant institution a
  grant amount equal to the amount committed by the institution for
  the recruitment of a distinguished researcher, except as provided
  by Subsection (c)(2).
         (b)  A grant application must identify the source and amount
  of the eligible institution's matching funds and must demonstrate
  that the proposed use of the grant has the support of the
  institution's president and of the institution's governing board,
  the chair of the institution's governing board, or the chancellor
  of the university system, if the institution is a component of a
  university system. An applicant eligible institution may commit
  for matching purposes any funds of the institution available for
  that purpose other than appropriated general revenue.
         (c)  The board may set a deadline for grant applications for
  each state fiscal year. After fully funding approved grant
  applications received during an application period for a state
  fiscal year, the board may reopen applications for that year and:
               (1)  award the full amount of matching funds from the
  fund for new applications; or
               (2)  approve previously disapproved applications
  submitted before the original application deadline for receipt of a
  reduced grant amount.
         (d)  A matching grant received by an eligible institution
  under this subchapter may not be considered as a basis to reduce,
  directly or indirectly, the amount of money otherwise appropriated
  to the institution.
         (e)  A matching grant may not be used by an eligible
  institution to recruit a distinguished researcher or other employee
  from:
               (1)  another eligible institution; or
               (2)  a private or independent institution of higher
  education.
         (f)  The board shall require an application and all
  supporting documentation to be submitted to the board
  electronically in the manner prescribed by the board.
         Sec. 61.9974.  GRANT AWARD CRITERIA; PRIORITIES. (a) In
  awarding grants, the board shall give priority to proposals that:
               (1)  involve the recruitment of distinguished
  researchers, including researchers who study mental and behavioral
  health issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic; or
               (2)  demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of
  contributing substantially to this state's national and global
  economic competitiveness.
         (b)  A grant proposal should identify a specific
  distinguished researcher being recruited.
         Sec. 61.9975.  TEXAS BRAIN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE
  FUND. (a) The Texas brain university research initiative fund is a
  dedicated account in the general revenue fund.
         (b)  The fund consists of:
               (1)  amounts appropriated or otherwise allocated or
  transferred by law to the fund; and
               (2)  gifts, grants, and other donations received for
  the fund.
         (c)  The fund may be used by the board only for the purposes
  of this subchapter, including for necessary expenses incurred in
  the administration of the fund and this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9976.  CONFIDENTIALITY. Information collected or
  obtained by the board or the advisory board concerning the identity
  of a particular distinguished researcher who is the subject of a
  grant proposal under this subchapter is confidential unless the
  researcher and the applicant eligible institution consent to
  disclosure of the information. The information remains
  confidential until the date, if any, on which the researcher enters
  into an employment relationship with the recruiting institution as
  contemplated in the grant proposal.
         Sec. 61.9977.  ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The Texas brain
  university research initiative advisory board is established to
  assist the board with the review and evaluation of applications for
  funding of grant proposals under this subchapter. The advisory
  board shall make recommendations to the board for approval or
  disapproval of those applications.
         (b)  The advisory board must be composed of at least nine
  members appointed by the governor. Of the members of the board:
               (1)  one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,
  must have a background in finance;
               (2)  one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,
  must have an academic background in science, medicine, or brain
  health; and
               (3)  one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,
  must be public members.
         (c)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  size, composition, or duration of the advisory board.
         (d)  A member of the advisory board who is or has been
  employed by, is or has been a party to a contract for any purpose
  with, or is a student or former student of an applicant eligible
  institution may not be involved in the review, evaluation, or
  recommendation of a grant proposal made by that institution.
         (e)  An advisory board member is not required to be a
  resident of this state.
         (f)  Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without
  regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
  national origin of the appointees.
         (g)  Members of the advisory board serve without
  compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and
  necessary expenses in attending meetings of the advisory board or
  performing other official duties authorized by the board.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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