Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3988 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R13813 SHH-D
2	2	By: Reynolds H.B. No. 3988
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
10	10	by adding Chapter 482 to read as follows:
11	11	CHAPTER 482. TEXAS ADVANCED RESEARCH INSTITUTE
12	12	Sec. 482.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "institute"
13	13	means the Texas Advanced Research Institute.
14	14	Sec. 482.002. PURPOSES. The Texas Advanced Research
15	15	Institute is established in the office of the governor to:
16	16	(1) promote advanced research efforts in all
17	17	disciplines, including:
18	18	(A) energy;
19	19	(B) medicine; and
20	20	(C) biotechnology;
21	21	(2) attract, create, or expand research capabilities
22	22	of public or private institutions of higher education and other
23	23	public or private entities that will promote a substantial increase
24	24	in advanced research and development and in the creation of
25	25	inventions and patents in this state;
26	26	(3) ensure that this state invests and receives a
27	27	return on investment in advanced research and development
28	28	commensurate with the size and influence of this state's economy;
29	29	and
30	30	(4) serve as an intermediary between institutions of
31	31	higher education, the private sector, and other stakeholders to
32	32	develop the workforce of this state and equip that workforce with
33	33	skills and credentials for the jobs and professions of the future,
34	34	including technical skills.
35	35	Sec. 482.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Advanced
36	36	Research Institute is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act).
37	37	Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the
38	38	institute is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2035.
39	39	Sec. 482.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The institute:
40	40	(1) may make grants to provide funding to public or
41	41	private persons to conduct research and development with the
42	42	objective of advancing knowledge, creating intellectual property,
43	43	and identifying commercial opportunities to monetize the products
44	44	resulting from advanced research and development;
45	45	(2) shall coordinate with participating public and
46	46	private persons to develop the Texas Advanced Research Plan;
47	47	(3) may support institutions of higher education,
48	48	advanced research facilities, and collaborations in this state in
49	49	all stages in the process of conducting and exploiting advanced
50	50	research and development;
51	51	(4) may establish the appropriate standards and
52	52	oversight bodies to ensure the proper use of funds authorized under
53	53	this chapter for advanced research and development;
54	54	(5) shall continuously monitor contracts and
55	55	agreements authorized by this chapter and ensure that each grant
56	56	recipient complies with the terms and conditions of the grant
57	57	contract;
58	58	(6) shall ensure that all grant proposals comply with
59	59	this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter before the
60	60	proposals are granted approval; and
61	61	(7) shall establish procedures to document that the
62	62	institute, its employees, and council members appointed under this
63	63	chapter comply with all laws governing the academic peer review
64	64	process and conflicts of interest where applicable.
65	65	(b) The institute shall implement the Texas Advanced
66	66	Research Plan and continually monitor and revise the plan as
67	67	necessary.
68	68	Sec. 482.005. LEADERSHIP, STAFF, AND RESOURCES. (a) The
69	69	institute is governed by a council of nine members appointed by the
70	70	governor.
71	71	(b) Members of the council serve staggered six-year terms
72	72	with one-third of the members' terms expiring on February 1 of each
73	73	odd-numbered year.
74	74	(c) The governor shall designate a member as the president
75	75	of the council to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the
76	76	governor.
77	77	(d) The office of the governor shall provide the institute
78	78	with necessary staff and resources to perform the institute's
79	79	duties under this chapter.
80	80	Sec. 482.006. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall
81	81	select the recipients of any grants awarded by the institute.
82	82	(b) The council may conduct surveys, research, or
83	83	investigations for the purposes of the institute.
84	84	Sec. 482.007. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
85	85	once each year at the call of the president.
86	86	Sec. 482.008. FUNDING. (a) The institute may receive
87	87	state-appropriated funds for the purpose of supporting the
88	88	activities of the institute.
89	89	(b) The institute may solicit, accept, and use gifts,
90	90	grants, and donations from public and private sources for the
91	91	purposes of this chapter, subject only to limitations contained in
92	92	the gifts, grants, or donations.
93	93	(c) The institute may receive funding in the form of
94	94	royalties, license fees, and profits resulting from inventions,
95	95	discoveries, and products developed by or in partnership with, or
96	96	coordinated through, the institute.
97	97	SECTION 2. In appointing the initial members of the council
98	98	of the Texas Advanced Research Institute, the governor shall
99	99	appoint three members for terms expiring February 1, 2025, three
100	100	members for terms expiring February 1, 2027, and three members for
101	101	terms expiring February 1, 2029.
102	102	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.