85R1976 CLG-D
By: Burton S.B. No. 1816
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to abolishing the spaceport trust fund and the disposition
of the balance of that fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 481.0066(d) and (e-1), Government Code,
are amended 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) [determine the appropriate level of funding
for the spaceport trust fund created under Section 481.0069 and]
support ongoing projects that have been assisted by the former
spaceport trust 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) provide technical support and expertise to the
state and to local spaceport authorities regarding aerospace and
aviation business matters; and
(8) be responsible for the promotion and development
of spaceports in this state.
(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
(4) [(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.
SECTION 2. Section 481.0069, Government Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3. (a) In this section:
(1) "Office" means the Texas Economic Development and
Tourism Office.
(2) "Spaceport development corporation" has the
meaning assigned by Section 507.001, Local Government Code.
(b) On September 1, 2017, the spaceport trust fund is
abolished and the balance of the fund is transferred to the general
revenue fund for use in accordance with legislative appropriation,
except as provided by Subsections (d) and (e) of this section.
(c) The abolishment of the spaceport trust fund and the
repeal of Section 481.0069, Government Code, do not affect the
validity of a contract between the office and a spaceport
development corporation that is entered into under Section
481.0069(e), Government Code, before September 1, 2017.
(d) Money that was deposited in the spaceport trust fund as
a gift, grant, or donation under Section 481.0069(c)(1), Government
Code, shall be held in trust by the comptroller outside the state
treasury and shall be administered by the comptroller as trustee as
provided by this subsection. The comptroller may:
(1) spend money encumbered by the specific terms of
the gift, grant, or donation only in accordance with those terms;
(2) return to the donor or grantor, on request, any
portion of the amount of a gift, grant, or donation described by
this subsection that remains on deposit; or
(3) transfer to the general revenue fund for use in
accordance with legislative appropriation any other remaining
money deposited as a gift, grant, or donation under Section
481.0069(c)(1), Government Code.
(e) Money from the spaceport trust fund that is encumbered
because the money is obligated by contract before September 1,
2017, but under the terms of the contract will not be distributed
until a later date shall be held in trust by the comptroller as
trustee outside the state treasury and shall be administered by the
comptroller as trustee to ensure that the money is distributed in
accordance with the terms of the contract. If the office determines
that the money will not be distributed in accordance with the terms
of contract, the office shall certify that fact to the comptroller.
On that certification, the comptroller shall transfer that money to
the general revenue fund to be used in accordance with legislative
appropriation.
(f) On or after the effective date of this Act, the
following payments or other amounts shall be remitted to the
comptroller for deposit to the general revenue fund:
(1) any interest or income earned on the investment of
money in the spaceport trust fund;
(2) any money returned by a spaceport development
corporation pursuant to a contract entered into under Section
481.0069, Government Code; and
(3) any money received by a donor or grantor under
Subsection (d)(2) of this section that is subsequently returned to
the state.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.