By: Parker H.B. No. 3625
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of the governor's university
research initiative.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 62.161(1), Education Code, as added by
Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(1) "Distinguished researcher" means:
(A) an individual [a] researcher who [is]:
(i) is [(A)] a Nobel laureate; [or]
(ii) is [(B)] a member of the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, or the
National Academy of Medicine, formerly known as the Institute of
Medicine; or
(iii) has attained a highly prestigious
national academic recognition, as defined by office rule; or
(B) a group of researchers who have attained
recognition as defined by office rule described by Paragraph
(A)(iii).
SECTION 2. Section 62.162(b), Education Code, as added by
Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The office in consultation with the commissioner of
higher education may adopt any rules the office considers necessary
to administer this subchapter. The commissioner shall recommend to
the office the types of national academic recognitions that are
considered to be highly prestigious for purposes of determining
which individuals or groups qualify as a "distinguished researcher"
under Section 62.161.
SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 62, Education Code, as
added by Chapters 323 (S.B. 632) and 915 (H.B. 26), Acts of the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is amended by adding Section
62.169 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.169. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The governor's
university research initiative advisory board is established to
assist the office with the review and evaluation of applications
for funding of grant proposals under this subchapter. The advisory
board shall make recommendations to the office for approval or
disapproval of those applications.
(b) The advisory board must be composed of at least nine
members appointed by the governor. Of the members of the board:
(1) one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,
must have a background in finance;
(2) one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,
must have an academic background in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics; and
(3) one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,
must be public members.
(c) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
size, composition, or duration of the advisory board.
(d) A member of the advisory board who is or has been
employed by, is or has been a party to a contract for any purpose
with, or is a student or former student of an applicant eligible
institution may not be involved in the review, evaluation, or
recommendation of a grant proposal made by that institution.
(e) An advisory board member is not required to be a
resident of this state.
(f) Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without
regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
national origin of the appointees.
(g) Members of the advisory board serve without
compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses in attending meetings of the board or performing
other official duties authorized by the office.
SECTION 4. Subchapter H, Chapter 62, Education Code, as
added by Chapter 448 (H.B. 7), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2015, is repealed.
SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a grant application submitted to the Texas Economic Development
and Tourism Office in the office of the governor on or after the
effective date of this Act. A grant application submitted before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
the date the application was submitted, and that law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.