84R469 DDT-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 458
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the aerospace and aviation office of the Texas Economic
Development and Tourism Office and to the aerospace and aviation
advisory committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 481.0066, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections (d-1),
(d-2), (e-1), and (e-2) to read as follows:
(d) The aerospace and aviation office shall:
(1) analyze space-related and aviation-related
research currently conducted in this state and may conduct
activities designed to further that research;
(2) analyze the state's economic position in the
aerospace and aviation industries;
(3) develop short-term and long-term business
strategies as part of an industry-specific strategic plan to
promote the retention, development, and expansion of aerospace and
aviation industry facilities in the state that is consistent with
and complementary of the office strategic plan;
(4) make specific recommendations to the legislature
and the governor regarding the promotion of those industries;
(5) as part of and to further the purposes of the
industry-specific strategic plan described by Subdivision (3),
develop short-term and long-term policy initiatives or recommend
reforms the state may undertake or implement to:
(A) increase commercial provider investment in
aerospace activities;
(B) support the retention, development, and
expansion of spaceports in this state;
(C) create a business-friendly environment to
assist commercial providers in the aerospace industry in conducting
business in this state;
(D) promote, develop, and expand tourism related
to the aerospace industry;
(E) identify and encourage educational,
economic, and defense-related opportunities for aerospace
activities;
(F) increase funding for the spaceport trust fund
created under Section 481.0069 and support ongoing projects that
have been assisted by the fund, including recommending to the
legislature an appropriate funding level for the fund;
(G) foster technological advancement and
economic development for spaceport activities by strengthening
higher education programs and supporting aerospace activities; and
(H) support initiatives that address the
high-technology skills and staff resources needed to better promote
the state's efforts in becoming the leading space exploration state
in the nation;
(6) act as a liaison with other state and federal
entities with related economic, educational, and defense
responsibilities to support the marketing of the state's aerospace
and aviation capabilities;
(7) [(6)] provide technical support and expertise to
the state and to local spaceport authorities regarding aerospace
and aviation business matters; and
(8) [(7)] be responsible for the promotion and
development of spaceports in this state.
(d-1) The aerospace and aviation office shall make specific
short-term and long-term statutory, administrative, and
budget-related recommendations to the legislature and the governor
regarding the policy initiatives and reforms described by
Subsection (d)(5) that may be implemented by the state. The
short-term recommendations must include two-year and four-year
plans for state action that may be implemented or achieved on or
before September 1, 2019, and September 1, 2021, respectively. The
long-term recommendations must include 5-year, 10-year, and
15-year plans for state action that may be implemented or achieved
on or before September 1, 2022, September 1, 2027, and September 1,
2032, respectively. The aerospace and aviation office shall submit
these recommendations to the legislature and governor with the
biennial report required by Subsection (d-2) not later than
December 1, 2016. This subsection expires September 1, 2017.
(d-2) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the aerospace and aviation office shall submit to the legislature
and governor, in printed or electronic form, a report detailing the
actions taken by the aerospace and aviation office in carrying out
the policy initiatives and reforms under Subsection (d)(5) to
further the purposes of the industry-specific strategic plan as
specified in the recommendations required by Subsection (d-1),
including:
(1) the status of all projects and activities;
(2) the funding of expenditures;
(3) the planning and research conducted;
(4) the provision of community and technical
assistance;
(5) the collection of information; and
(6) an explanation of the ways in which the aerospace
and aviation office has promoted the state's economic development
goals through increased space exploration activities.
(e) The governor shall appoint an aerospace and aviation
advisory committee consisting of seven qualified members to assist
in the state's economic development efforts to recruit and retain
aerospace and aviation jobs and investment. The committee must
consist of:
(1) one member who represents the interests of an
active spaceport development corporation created in the lower Gulf
Coast area of the state;
(2) one member who represents the interests of an
active spaceport development corporation created in the West Texas
area of the state;
(3) three members with an aerospace professional
background who are selected from each of the following geographical
areas of the state:
(A) upper Gulf Coast area;
(B) Central Texas area; and
(C) North Texas area; and
(4) two members who are selected from the state at
large.
(e-1) The aerospace and aviation advisory committee shall:
(1) advise the governor on the recruitment and
retention of aerospace and aviation jobs and investment;
(2) assist the office and the aerospace and aviation
office in meeting the state's economic development efforts to
recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investment;
(3) advise the office, the aerospace and aviation
office, and the governor on an appropriate funding level for the
spaceport trust fund;
(4) advise the office, the aerospace and aviation
office, and the governor on recruitment, retention, and expansion
of aerospace and aviation industry activities, including aerospace
tourism initiatives; and
(5) collect and disseminate information on federal,
state, local, and private community economic development programs
that assist or provide loans, grants, or other funding to aerospace
industry activities.
(e-2) Members of the aerospace and aviation advisory
committee:
(1) shall serve staggered four-year terms; and
(2) may not receive compensation for serving on the
committee.
SECTION 2. (a) The terms of the current members of the
aerospace and aviation advisory committee expire on the effective
date of this Act. On that date or as soon as possible after that
date, the governor shall appoint new members to the aerospace and
aviation advisory committee in accordance with the requirements of
Section 481.0066(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act. The
governor shall designate four members of the committee whose terms
expire on February 1, 2017, and three members of the committee whose
terms expire on February 1, 2019.
(b) A member of the aerospace and aviation advisory
committee serving immediately before the effective date of this Act
is eligible for reappointment to the committee if the person has the
qualifications for a member under Section 481.0066(e), Government
Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.