S.B. No. 1525
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the administration of the governor's university
  research initiative.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 62.161(1), Education Code, as added by
  Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Distinguished researcher" means:
                     (A)  an individual [a] researcher who [is]:
                           (i)  is [(A)]  a Nobel laureate; [or]
                           (ii)  is [(B)]  a member of the National
  Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, or the
  National Academy of Medicine, formerly known as the Institute of
  Medicine; or
                           (iii)  has attained a highly prestigious
  national academic recognition, as defined by office rule; or
                     (B)  a group of researchers who have attained the
  recognition described by Paragraph (A)(iii), as defined by office
  rule.
         SECTION 2.  Section 62.162(b), Education Code, as added by
  Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The office in consultation with the commissioner of
  higher education may adopt any rules the office considers necessary
  to administer this subchapter. The commissioner shall recommend to
  the office the types of national academic recognitions that are
  considered to be highly prestigious for purposes of determining
  which individuals or groups qualify as a "distinguished researcher"
  under Section 62.161.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 62, Education Code, as
  added by Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended by adding Section
  62.169 to read as follows:
         Sec. 62.169.  ADVISORY BOARD. (a)  The governor's
  university research initiative advisory board is established to
  assist the office with the review and evaluation of applications
  for funding of grant proposals under this subchapter.  The advisory
  board shall make recommendations to the office 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, technology,
  engineering, or mathematics; 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 board or performing
  other official duties authorized by the office.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter H, Chapter 62, Education Code, as
  added by Chapter 448 (H.B. 7), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2015, is repealed.
         SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a grant application submitted to the Texas Economic Development
  and Tourism Office in the office of the governor on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A grant application submitted before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
  the date the application was submitted, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1525 passed the Senate on    
  April 13, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1525 passed the House on       
  May 20, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 128, Nays 15, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor