By: Watson S.B. No. 1600
(In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2009; March 17, 2009, read
first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
April 30, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 30, 2009,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1600 By: Duncan
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an interim study on the creation of a data collection to
track specialized technology research projects conducted by public
universities, public university research facilities, and other
state institutions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. INTERIM STUDY REGARDING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH DATA
COLLECTION. (a) A select interim committee is created to study
the feasibility of collecting data and maintaining a searchable
electronic database, search engine, or other collection of data
(data collection) relating to specialized technology research
projects that are developed or conducted at public universities in
this state, research facilities of public universities in this
state, or other facilities operated by a state agency, in order to
facilitate coordination among the universities and facilities on
the projects and improve access to and awareness of the specialized
research and technologies developed at those institutions and
facilities.
(b) The study must consider:
(1) appropriate entities to administer the data
collection, including nonprofit organizations, public universities
in this state, or state agencies;
(2) the extent of legislative oversight required for
an entity that would maintain the data collection;
(3) compliance with state and federal laws regarding
access to public information; and
(4) the information the data collection would include,
such as:
(A) a list of projects involving one or more of
the following areas:
(i) energy research, including methods of
creation, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy;
(ii) biomedical science research;
(iii) nanotechnology research, including
nanomedicine; and
(iv) other specialized technology
research;
(B) for each project listed under Paragraph (A)
of this subdivision, a brief description of the project, including
the field of technology involved, the entity involved with the
project, and additional comments regarding the research the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board considers appropriate; and
(C) other relevant information and available
resources in this state relating to specialized technology
research, including:
(i) expert faculty or research personnel;
(ii) available technology and patents
obtained;
(iii) the location of and policies for the
use of available research equipment; and
(iv) public grants or contracts awarded.
(c) The study shall examine the current state of access to
public information about specialized technology research projects
and shall assess the best methods of facilitating access to the
information. In addition, the study shall consider what
information should be accessible by the general public and what
information, if any, should have restricted access.
(d) The committee shall be composed of:
(1) representatives of the following institutions,
with one member named by each institution: The University of Texas
at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the
University of Houston, the University of North Texas, The
University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at
Dallas, The University of Texas at El Paso, and The University of
Texas at San Antonio; and
(2) a number of members appointed by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board as the coordinating board considers
appropriate to represent the coordinating board, data collection
providers, and the technology industry.
(e) On the request of the committee, a general academic
institution of higher education, research facility of a general
academic institution of higher education, or other facility
operated by a state agency shall provide to the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board or advisory committee any information
necessary for the board or advisory committee to perform its duties
under this section.
SECTION 2. COMMITTEE REPORT. Not later than December 1,
2010, the committee shall report the committee's findings and
recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and the governor. The committee shall
include in its recommendations specific legislation that the
committee considers desirable to address the need for and
feasibility of establishing a data collection as determined by the
committee's findings.
SECTION 3. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The committee is
abolished and this Act expires January 16, 2011.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2009.
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