By: Hughes S.B. No. 2796

AN ACT

relating to the Cancer Prevention Research Institute's fiscal responsibilities to the state of Texas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 102.002, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 102.002. PURPOSES. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is established to:

(1) create and expedite innovation in the area of cancer research and in enhancing the potential for a medical or scientific breakthrough in the prevention of cancer and cures for cancer;

(2) attract, create, or expand research capabilities of public or private institutions of higher education and other public or private entities that will promote a substantial increase in cancer research and in the creation of high-quality new jobs in this state; and

(3) develop and implement the Texas Cancer Plan.; and

(4) provide a reasonable return on investment for the state, with fiduciary responsibilities to the state of Texas, with a non-binding target of at least 1% returns per year, subject to the decision of the Institute's oversight committee.

SECTION 2. Section 102.0511(c), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The chief executive officer shall hire:

(1) one chief scientific officer;

(2) one chief operating officer;

(3) one chief investment officer;

(34) one chief product development officer; and

(45) one chief prevention officer.

SECTION 3. Section 102.251(a-2-C), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(C) to the extent possible, gives priority to proposals that:

(i) could lead to immediate or long-term medical and scientific breakthroughs in the area of cancer prevention or cures for cancer;

(ii) strengthen and enhance fundamental science in cancer research;

(iii) ensure a comprehensive coordinated approach to cancer research;

(iv) to the best of the program integration committee's knowledge, with consultation by the chief investment officer and chief financial officer, is expected to be financially viable and to enter the market within 15 years of initial investment, provide a complete return on initial investment for the state within 20 years, as long as a grant is considered by the program integration committee to be of extraordinary scientific or medical value;

(ivv) are interdisciplinary or interinstitutional;

(vi) address federal or other major research sponsors' priorities in emerging scientific or technology fields in the area of cancer prevention or cures for cancer;

(vii) are matched with funds available by a private or nonprofit entity and institution or institutions of higher education;

(viii) are collaborative between any combination of private and nonprofit entities, public or private agencies or institutions in this state, and public or private institutions outside this state;

(viiiix) have a demonstrable economic development benefit to this state;

(ix) enhance research superiority at institutions of higher education in this state by creating new research superiority, attracting existing research superiority from institutions not located in this state and other research entities, or enhancing existing research superiority by attracting from outside this state additional researchers and resources;

(xi) expedite innovation and product development, attract, create, or expand private sector entities that will drive a substantial increase in high-quality jobs, and increase higher education applied science or technology research capabilities; and

(xii) address the goals of the Texas Cancer Plan; and

SECTION 4. Section 102.255 (c-3), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(3) specify:

(A) the amount of matching funds to be dedicated under Subdivision (2);

(B) the period in which the grant award must be spent;

(C) the name of the research project to which matching funds are to be dedicated; and

(D) the specific deliverables of the project that is the subject of the grant proposal.; and

(E) an agreement by the grant recipient to provide bi-annual reports on the anticipated timeline for a return on investment for the state's portion of the grant money, when taking into consideration the progress made by grant recipient and market conditions.

SECTION 5. 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, 2025.