Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1124

Voted on by Senate
 
Out of House Committee
 
Voted on by House
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to creation of the university research initiative fund, the abolishment of the Texas emerging technology fund, and the disposition of balances from the Texas emerging technology fund.

Impact

By instituting the University Research Initiative Fund, the bill is designed to centralize resources and support for higher education institutions in their research endeavors. The intention is to bolster Texas's position in the global economy by recruiting outstanding researchers and promoting innovation through collaborative projects. The bill stipulates specific priorities for grants, particularly favoring those initiatives that are likely to yield substantial benefits for the state's economy. This shift is expected to create a more structured approach to funding research initiatives compared to the previous technology fund.

Summary

SB1124, introduced by Senator Eltife, proposes the creation of the University Research Initiative Fund while abolishing the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. The measure aims to enhance Texas's capacity for attracting and retaining top national and international researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It also intends to facilitate matching grants for institutions of higher education, enabling them to recruit renowned researchers who can significantly contribute to the state's economic competitiveness and research capabilities.

Contention

Notably, the move to abolish the Texas Emerging Technology Fund has faced scrutiny. Critics might argue that while the new initiative has its merits, the previous fund provided diverseness in funding applications and could lead to a wider range of innovation solutions within Texas's tech scene. Transitioning from the former fund to the proposed initiative may evoke concerns from stakeholders about potential gaps in funding for technology projects that may not fit strictly within the confines of STEM but still hold importance to Texas's market and employment landscape.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX SB2367

Relating to the creation of programs and funding for investment in technology industries.

TX SJR49

Proposing a constitutional amendment creating a university research fund to support emerging research universities in The University of Texas System or The Texas A&M University System and disqualifying all component institutions of those university systems from receiving money from the national research university fund.

TX SB1058

Relating to the university research fund and eligibility to receive money from the national research university fund.

TX SB19

Relating to the administration and investment of, and distribution and use of money from, certain constitutional and statutory funds to support general academic teaching institutions in achieving national prominence as major research universities and driving the state economy; redesignating the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund.

TX HB15

Relating to the creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas.

TX HB2466

Relating to the creation of the Texas technology and innovation program.

TX SB2288

Relating to the creation of the Texas semiconductor innovation consortium and fund.

TX HB3988

Relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute.

TX SB1974

Relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute.

TX HB3050

Relating to the creation of the Texas state buildings preservation endowment fund, including the transfer to the fund of the unencumbered balances of certain other funds.

Similar Bills

TX HB3853

Relating to creation of the university research initiative fund, the abolishment of the Texas emerging technology fund, and the disposition of balances from the Texas emerging technology fund.

TX HB27

Relating to state economic development measures, including administration of the Texas Enterprise Fund, the abolishment of the Texas emerging technology fund, and the disposition of balances from the Texas emerging technology fund.

TX HB26

Relating to state economic development measures, including administration of the Texas Enterprise Fund, creation of the Economic Incentive Oversight Board and the governor's university research initiative, abolishment of the Texas emerging technology fund, and renaming the Major Events trust fund to the Major Events Reimbursement Program.

TX HB3525

Relating to creating the Texas Quality Research Leadership Authority to help Texas small businesses rapidly scale in potentially leading edge technologies and abolishing the Texas emerging technology fund.

TX HB43

Relating to the Texas emerging technology fund; redesignating the fund as the Texas Research Technology Fund.

TX HB44

Relating to the Texas emerging technology fund; redesignating the fund as the Texas Research Technology Fund.

TX HB3162

Relating to the Texas emerging technology fund; redesignating the fund as the Texas Research Technology Fund.

TX SB632

Relating to the creation of the governor's university research initiative and to the abolishment of the Texas emerging technology fund.