Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2288 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

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1	1	By: Huffman S.B. No. 2288
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the creation of the Texas semiconductor innovation
7	7	consortium and fund.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Amending Government Code, Chapter 481 to read as
10	10	follows:
11	11	SUBCHAPTER FF. TEXAS SEMICONDUCTOR INNOVATION CONSORTIUM
12	12	Sec. 481.610. ESTABLISHMENT. The Texas Semiconductor
13	13	Innovation Consortium is established as an advisory panel to the
14	14	governor and the legislature. The objectives of the consortium are:
15	15	(a)leverage the expertise and capacity of institutions
16	16	of higher education, industry, and non-profit stakeholders to
17	17	develop a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure ongoing
18	18	semiconductor innovation;
19	19	(b) sustain Texas leadership in advanced
20	20	semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing;
21	21	(c) attract public and private investment in the state
22	22	related to research, development, commercialization, and
23	23	manufacturing of semiconductors;
24	24	(d) identify and expand opportunities for workforce
25	25	training and development related to the research, design, and
26	26	manufacturing of semiconductors; and
27	27	(e) establish a forum for public and private
28	28	stakeholders across the semiconductor manufacturing industry
29	29	within the state to focus on education, research and development,
30	30	and commercial production.
31	31	Sec. 481.611. COMPOSITION.(a) The consortium is composed of
32	32	a designee appointed by the office of the president for each of the
33	33	following general academic institutions of higher education:
34	34	(1) The University of Texas at Arlington;
35	35	(2) The University of Texas at Austin;
36	36	(3) The University of Texas at Dallas;
37	37	(4) The University of Texas at El Paso;
38	38	(5) The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley;
39	39	(6) The University of Texas at San Antonio;
40	40	(7) Texas A&M University;
41	41	(8) Prairie View A&M University;
42	42	(9) The University of Houston;
43	43	(10) The University of North Texas;
44	44	(11) Texas Tech University;
45	45	(12) Texas State University;
46	46	(13) Lamar University;
47	47	(14) Lamar State College - Orange;
48	48	(15) Lamar State College - Port Arthur:
49	49	(16) Lamar Institute of Technology;
50	50	(17) Austin Community College; and
51	51	(18) Dallas Community College.
52	52	(b) In addition to the appointments made under
53	53	Subsection (a), the executive committee established under
54	54	Government Code, Section 481.613 may appoint any other entity or
55	55	individual that it deems beneficial.
56	56	(c) In making appointments under Subsections (a) and
57	57	(b), priority shall be given to individuals with experience in
58	58	semiconductor design and manufacturing.
59	59	Sec. 481.612. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The consortium is
60	60	administratively attached to the office of the governor for the
61	61	purpose of receiving and administering appropriations and other
62	62	funds under this chapter. The office shall provide the staff and
63	63	facilities necessary to assist the consortium in performing its
64	64	duties.
65	65	Sec. 481.613. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a) The
66	66	consortium is governed by an executive committee composed of the
67	67	following members:
68	68	(1) 3 members appointed by the governor;
69	69	(2) 2 members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
70	70	(3) 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of
71	71	representatives;
72	72	(4) the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System
73	73	or their designee; and
74	74	(5) the Chancellor of the University of Texas System
75	75	or their designee.
76	76	(b) In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority
77	77	shall be given to individuals with experience in manufacturing,
78	78	design, industrial development, academic research, and scientific
79	79	research in the field of semiconductors. In making appointments
80	80	under Subsection (a), the governor, lieutenant governor, and
81	81	speaker of the house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure
82	82	that at least two representatives from the commercial semiconductor
83	83	design and manufacturing sectors with an established presence in
84	84	the state are appointed.
85	85	Sec. 481.614. GENERAL DUTIES. The executive committee
86	86	shall:
87	87	(a) develop and execute a comprehensive statewide
88	88	strategic plan to further the objectives of the consortium as
89	89	established in Section 481.610;
90	90	(b) solicit recommendations from consortium members
91	91	on funding and research opportunities related to semiconductor
92	92	research, design, commercialization, and manufacturing;
93	93	(c) select a person to act as the executive director of
94	94	the consortium, having such official title, functions, duties,
95	95	powers, and salary as the executive committee may prescribe. The
96	96	executive director may enter into agreements with the office of the
97	97	governor for staff support services to facilitate the work of the
98	98	consortium. Funds deposited to the Semiconductor Innovation Fund
99	99	may be utilized for the implementation of this subsection pursuant
100	100	to Government Code, Section 481.617; and
101	101	(d) report the recommendations assembled in
102	102	Subsection (b) as outlined in Government Code, Section 481.615.
103	103	Sec. 481.615 BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
104	104	each even-numbered year, the executive committee shall prepare and
105	105	submit a written report to the governor and the legislative budget
106	106	board that outlines:
107	107	(a) activities undertaken to meet the objectives
108	108	of the consortium;
109	109	(b) a synopsis of the funding and research
110	110	opportunities identified in Section 481.614, Subsection (b);
111	111	(c) any legislative recommendations to further
112	112	the objectives of the consortium;
113	113	(d) any prospective grants or funding the
114	114	consortium members expect to apply for or receive; and
115	115	(e) any research accomplishments associated with
116	116	the consortium.
117	117	SUBCHAPTER FF. TEXAS SEMICONDUCTOR INNOVATION FUND
118	118	Sec. 481.616. FUND ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. The
119	119	Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund is created as a dedicated
120	120	account within the General Revenue Fund. The fund consists of:
121	121	(a) gifts, grants, or donations; and
122	122	(b) any other source designated by the legislature.
123	123	Sec. 481.617. FUND USE AND BALANCE MANAGEMENT. (a) The fund
124	124	may be utilized at the discretion of the legislature to:
125	125	(1) Provide appropriations to state entities and
126	126	institutions of higher education as matches for semiconductor
127	127	manufacturing and design projects; and
128	128	(2) Issue grants to private businesses with an
129	129	established presence within the state of Texas to encourage
130	130	economic development related to semiconductor manufacturing and
131	131	design.
132	132	(b) The fund may be utilized for the purposes described
133	133	Government Code, 481.614, Subsection (c), subject to approval by
134	134	the legislative budget board. Such a request shall be considered
135	135	approved within 30 days of receipt by the legislative budget board
136	136	unless expressly disapproved.
137	137	(c) The comptroller of public accounts shall return all
138	138	unexpended balances in the fund to general revenue on October 1 of
139	139	each even numbered year unless authorization is granted by the
140	140	legislative budget board to maintain the unexpended fund balance.
141	141	Such authorization shall be requested by the comptroller no later
142	142	than August 31 of each even numbered year, and shall be considered
143	143	approved within 30 days of receipt by the legislative budget board
144	144	unless expressly disapproved.
145	145	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
146	146	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
147	147	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
148	148	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
149	149	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.