| 1 | 1 | | 82R22663 JRJ-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2520 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2520: |
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| 4 | 4 | | By: Munoz, Jr. C.S.H.B. No. 2520 |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the linking of data regarding specialized technology |
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| 10 | 10 | | research projects conducted by general academic teaching |
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| 11 | 11 | | institutions and other state agencies. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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| 14 | 14 | | amended by adding Section 61.0823 to read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 61.0823. STATEWIDE SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH |
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| 16 | 16 | | DATA. (a) The purpose of this section is to enhance research |
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| 17 | 17 | | coordination and expand research collaborations among general |
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| 18 | 18 | | academic teaching institutions and other state agencies in one or |
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| 19 | 19 | | more of the following specialized technology areas: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) energy research, including methods of creation, |
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| 21 | 21 | | storage, distribution, and conservation of energy; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) biomedical science research; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | (3) nanotechnology research, including nanomedicine. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (b) The board shall facilitate the linking of data relating |
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| 25 | 25 | | to specialized technology research projects that are developed or |
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| 26 | 26 | | conducted at general academic teaching institutions, including any |
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| 27 | 27 | | research facilities associated with those institutions, and at |
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| 28 | 28 | | research facilities of state agencies other than institutions of |
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| 29 | 29 | | higher education. To the greatest extent possible, the links shall |
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| 30 | 30 | | be established using existing information systems of the |
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| 31 | 31 | | institutions and at the lowest reasonable cost. |
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| 32 | 32 | | (c) The board, in consultation with the institutions and |
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| 33 | 33 | | agencies, shall determine the type of projects and research areas |
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| 34 | 34 | | to be included and prescribe the level and type of data to be |
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| 35 | 35 | | linked, including: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) faculty data, such as the researcher's name, |
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| 37 | 37 | | position, area of research interest, grants, and intellectual |
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| 38 | 38 | | property; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2) facility descriptions, such as the facility's |
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| 40 | 40 | | purpose, capability, physical location, availability under fee for |
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| 41 | 41 | | service, and contact information. |
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| 42 | 42 | | (d) The board shall implement this section in phases in |
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| 43 | 43 | | regard to participating institutions and agencies and in regard to |
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| 44 | 44 | | projects and research areas to be included. Implementation shall |
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| 45 | 45 | | begin with the general academic teaching institutions identified as |
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| 46 | 46 | | national research universities and emerging research universities. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (e) The board and each participating institution or agency |
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| 48 | 48 | | shall execute a memorandum of understanding governing the linkage |
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| 49 | 49 | | of data under this section. The memorandum of understanding shall |
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| 50 | 50 | | address the administration of the linking of data, which may be |
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| 51 | 51 | | performed by a nonprofit entity created for that purpose, the |
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| 52 | 52 | | sharing of costs for implementation of this section, and other |
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| 53 | 53 | | matters determined by the board and the participating institution |
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| 54 | 54 | | or agency. Data collection and management shall remain the |
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| 55 | 55 | | responsibility of the respective participating institution or |
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| 56 | 56 | | agency. |
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| 57 | 57 | | (f) The board shall establish an advisory committee |
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| 58 | 58 | | composed of representatives of participating institutions and |
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| 59 | 59 | | agencies to advise and assist the board in implementing this |
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| 60 | 60 | | section. |
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| 61 | 61 | | (g) The board and the participating institutions and |
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| 62 | 62 | | agencies shall allow access to the linked information consistent |
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| 63 | 63 | | with state and federal laws regarding access to public information. |
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| 64 | 64 | | This section does not create or affect an exception to public |
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| 65 | 65 | | information laws. |
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| 66 | 66 | | (h) The board may adopt rules for the administration of this |
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| 67 | 67 | | section. |
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| 68 | 68 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 69 | 69 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 70 | 70 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 71 | 71 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 72 | 72 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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