89R13975 CXP-D
By: Hughes S.B. No. 1273
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing the Higher Education Research Security
Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.957 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.957. HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH SECURITY COUNCIL.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Council" means the Higher Education Research
Security Council established under this section.
(2) "Postsecondary educational institution" means an
institution of higher education or a private or independent
institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by
Section 61.003.
(3) "Tier one research institution" means a
postsecondary educational institution designated as R1: very high
spending and doctorate production in the 2025 Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education published by the
Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research.
(b) The Higher Education Research Security Council is
established to promote secure academic research at tier one
research institutions while mitigating the risk of foreign
espionage and interference.
(c) The council is composed of each research security
officer designated under Section 51.956.
(d) A council member serves at the will of the person who
designated the member.
(e) A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same
manner as the original designation.
(f) The council member designated under Section 51.956 for
The Texas A&M University System shall serve as the initial
presiding officer of the council.
(g) The council shall:
(1) identify best practices for a tier one research
institution to conduct research securely while mitigating the
threat of foreign espionage and interference;
(2) develop a research security policy that a tier one
research institution may adopt to improve research security;
(3) establish an accreditation process under which the
council may award a tier one research institution an accreditation
for security excellence;
(4) promote attendance at the annual academic security
and counter exploitation program seminar offered by The Texas A&M
University System; and
(5) develop and offer an annual training program for
tier one research institution security officers that includes:
(A) background and academic history checks of
researchers; and
(B) research security and integrity tools and
software that may be used to prevent the loss of intellectual
capital.
(h) The council shall meet at least once each quarter.
(i) A meeting conducted under Subsection (h) may be in
person or by video conference call, as determined by the presiding
officer.
(j) The council shall prepare and submit to the attorney
general's office and to the presiding officer of each legislative
committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education an annual
report on the status of research security at tier one research
institutions and any associated recommendations.
(k) A report submitted under Subsection (j) is confidential
and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government
Code.
(l) The council may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations for purposes of this section but may not solicit or accept
a gift, grant, or donation from China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or
any other country designated as a country of particular concern in
the United States secretary of state's most recent designations
under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
Section 6401 et seq.).
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the
appropriate entities shall designate the members of the Higher
Education Research Security Council established under Section
51.957, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Higher Education
Research Security Council established under Section 51.957,
Education Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial
meeting.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.