By: J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 3162
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Emerging Technology Fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 490, Government Code, is amended to read
as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sec. 490.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE. The Texas Emerging
Technology Advisory Committee is composed of 15 17 members.
Sec. 490.052. APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEE; NOMINATIONS. (a)
The governor shall appoint to the committee five 13 individuals
nominated as provided by Subsection (b).
(a-1) The lieutenant governor shall appoint five two
individuals to the committee.
(a-2) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint five two individuals to the committee.
(b) The following persons may nominate one or more
individuals who are industry leaders in this state or who are
nationally recognized leaders from public or private institutions
of higher education in this state for appointment to the committee:
(1) a president of a public or private institution of
higher education in this state;
(2) a representative of the governor's office involved
in economic development activities;
(3) a representative of the lieutenant governor's
office involved in economic development activities;
(4) a representative of the office of the speaker of
the house involved in economic development activities; and
(5) other persons considered appropriate by the
governor.
(c) The governor may prescribe a date after which a
nomination under Subsection (b) for appointment for the next term
will not be considered.
(d) If an insufficient number of qualified individuals are
nominated as provided by Subsection (b) before the date set by the
governor under Subsection (c), the governor, lieutenant governor,
or speaker of the house may appoint any qualified individual to the
board for that term.
Sec. 490.053. PRESIDING MEMBER. The governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house shall, in turn, appoint a
presiding member of the committee. The selection of the presiding
member will rotate between the governor, lieutenant governor, and
speaker of the house, and each presiding member chosen will serve a
two-year term.
Sec. 490.054. TERMS. (a) Members of the committee
appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house serve staggered two-year terms, subject to the pleasure of
the appointing entity governor.
(b) Members of the committee appointed by the lieutenant
governor or the speaker of the house of representatives serve
two-year terms.
Sec. 490.055. STAFF AND FUNDING. Necessary staff and
funding for the administration of the fund shall be provided by:
(1) the office of the governor; and
(2) gifts, grants, and donations for overhead expenses
to the office of the governor; and
(3) the advisory committee shall hire a fund manager
for the purpose of maintaining the Subchapter D grants.
Sec. 490.056. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING. (a) The fund
manager, with the advice of the regional centers of innovation and
commercialization, committee shall make recommendations, through
peer review and evaluation processes established by the advisory
committee, to the advisory board governor, lieutenant governor, and
speaker of the house of representatives for the award of money from
the fund as provided by this chapter.
(b) The committee may establish advisory panels of
knowledgeable individuals from industry, state government, or
academic occupations to assist in peer review activities under this
chapter. The final award will be made by the advisory board.
This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.