By: Lucio S.B. No. 458
(In the Senate - Filed February 5, 2015; February 9, 2015,
read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and
Economic Development; April 9, 2015, reported adversely, with
favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 2; April 9, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 458 By: Lucio
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 investment in aerospace and
aviation activities;
(B) support the retention, development, and
expansion of spaceports in this state;
(C) identify and encourage educational,
economic, and defense-related opportunities for aerospace and
aviation activities;
(D) 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;
(E) partner with the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to foster technological advancement and
economic development for spaceport activities by strengthening
higher education programs and supporting aerospace activities; and
(F) partner with the Texas Workforce Commission
to 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 a plan for state action for
implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2017. The
initiatives and reforms in the short-term plan must be fully
implemented by September 1, 2020. The long-term recommendations
must include a plan for state action for implementation beginning
not later than September 1, 2020. The initiatives and reforms in
the long-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2025.
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) a summary of work performed as part of the
aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, including a summary prepared by the
board of the research conducted by public senior colleges or
universities, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
(4) a summary of work performed as part of the
aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas
Workforce Commission; and
(5) 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:
(1) seven qualified members to assist in the state's
economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and
aviation jobs and investment; and
(2) one member for each active spaceport development
corporation in the state who represents the interests of each
respective spaceport development corporation.
(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; 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
and aviation 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.
(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.
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