Subject search results

4 Document(s) [ Subject: ]

Committee: House Economic and Small Business Development
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Aerospace industry | Economic development | Economic development incentives | High tech employment | High tech industry | Hurricane Harvey | Occupational licenses | Workforce |
Library Call Number: L1836.85 Ec74h
Session: 85th R.S. (2017)
Online version: View report [37 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Examine Hurricane Harvey’s economic and workforce impact on the state and private sector. Analyze the effects and efficiency of state resources available to assist in job training and the recovery of the state’s workforce.
2. Study the state's effectiveness in developing and growing high-growth, high-tech start-ups. Review current regulations and determine if barriers exist that potentially impede investment and growth. Evaluate the concept of a "sandbox" as a regulatory approach for enabling innovation and the feasibility of implementing such an approach in Texas.
3. Evaluate the ongoing and long-term workforce needs of the state’s businesses and industries. Determine whether state resources are adequate to address shortages and assist with closing existing or future gaps in workforce readiness and skills to ensure the continued economic security and success of the state.
4. Analyze current data on the distribution of state economic development incentives across the state. Identify advantages or qualities, if any, possessed by the regions frequently awarded state incentives. Accordingly, identify resources available to underserved regions to increase awareness or utilization of incentives.
5. Study the economic impact of the aviation, aerospace, & defense manufacturing industry in Texas and the state's ability to facilitate industry job growth and investment. Review the relationship between the economic vitality of industry and military veterans transitioning into the workforce. Determine existing and potential barriers to the retention and expansion of the manufacturing industry in the state and the broader economic implications it may have on workforce readiness, as well as veteran employment and support services. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Defense & Veterans’ Affairs)
6. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 85th Legislature.
Committee: House Economic and Small Business Development
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Career preparedness | Career schools | e-commerce | Economic development | Economic development incentives | Economy | Energy industry employment | High tech employment | High tech industry | Natural gas industry | Office of Economic Development and Tourism | Oil industry | Rural economic development | Short-term rentals | Small businesses | State budgets | Transportation network companies | Workforce | Workforce Commission, Texas |
Library Call Number: L1836.84 Ec74h
Session: 84th R.S. (2015)
Online version: View report [31 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Study the impacts of the declining price of oil and the continuously depressed price of natural gas on the Texas economy and the fiscal implications for the Texas budget. Consider impacts on local communities most dependent on oil and gas activity, including impacts on supporting economies such as retail, manufacturing, housing industries, etc. Recommend strategies for sustained energy development and workforce growth during times of depressed energy prices. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Energy Resources)
2. Evaluate what local governments are doing to attract businesses to their communities and examine ways the state can leverage these practices and provide support. Include ways to improve local economic development programs to ensure a continued return on investment for taxpayers. In addition, study the authority, financial accountability, and types of statutorily allowed expenditures of economic development corporations. Provide analysis of 4A and 4B sales tax programs and determine if they are still meeting their intended purpose effectively.
3. Study opportunities and financial incentives for expansion and growth of small businesses in Texas. Examine if adequate resources and capital exist for small businesses. Include analysis of any regulatory or tax hurdles and provide recommendations to alleviate these burdens. Furthermore, review programs available to provide training and support to develop business management and finance skills. Consider financial incentives that would incentivize expansion of existing small businesses and growth for new small businesses.
4. Oversee implementation of HB 26 (84R). Review best practices for measuring success of economic development incentives. Consider general metrics or principles to aid the Legislature in determining viable and sustainable incentive programs that provide a "Return on Investment" for taxpayers.
5. Evaluate Texas's competitiveness with other states in recruiting and cultivating high-growth, high-tech industries, fostering economic development, and creating new jobs. Examine if current incentives and regulations assist or hinder the state's ability to compete with other states for economic growth and sustainability.
6. Examine if the state has an adequately diversified economic foundation and make recommendations on how to better achieve diversification. Look at ways to achieve balance between rural and urban economic development. Consider methods to improve workforce development initiatives and incentives that will improve re-employment after layoffs and release from incarceration as well as methods to improve employment rates for recent graduates.
7. Evaluate how Texas can support shared economy growth in the state and include implications of such growth on existing, traditional businesses. Develop characteristics by which to classify "shared economy" business and determine how the state can ensure customer security and satisfaction as well as public health without enacting burdensome regulations.
8. Examine partnerships between higher education institutions, public school districts, and workforce that promote postsecondary readiness. Provide coordination recommendations to ensure vocational, career, and technical education programs are more accessible. Determine the most effective ways to invest in these partnerships and programs to direct at-risk students to stable career paths. Examine current rules and laws limiting employers from providing meaningful internships, apprenticeships, and other opportunities. Consider new methods to finance workforce training programs and associated assets in high schools and postsecondary schools, including ways to reduce or eliminate these costs and options to incentivize businesses to invest in training equipment for schools. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Public Education)
9. Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs. e. monitor the impact of major economic development legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. f. include updates regarding transfer of duties and services from health and human services agencies to the Texas Workforce Commission, including implementation of SB 208 and SB 212. Coordinate with the Legislative Oversight Committee constituted by SB 208, when necessary. g. evaluate the impact of incentive reform legislation, including the elimination of the Emerging Technology Fund and the transition of contracts to the Comptroller's office.
Committee: Senate Advisory Council on the Digital Economy
Title: Executive Summary
Library Catalog Title: Bringing digital opportunity to all Texans : the report.
Subjects: Advisory Council on the Digital Economy, Texas | Business taxes | Community colleges | Consumer protection | Digital divide | Economic development | High tech employment | High tech industry | High technology | Internet | Privacy | State government contracts | Technology education |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 d569s
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [6 pages  File size: 52 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. With a focus on maintaining Texas' leadership in the digital economy, the Council shall consider strategies that (a) promote Texas' already-existing technology-friendly climate, (b) reduce governmental impediments to the greater economic opportunities for technology companies in Texas, and (c) encourage technology companies to locate in and remain in Texas. Specifically, the Council shall consider: A. How to create broad promotional efforts that highlight Texas' pro-technology business climate. B. How tax policy encourages or discourages the growth of Texas' high tech industry. C. How state government permitting, contracting and regulatory compliance processes affect the growth of Texas' high tech industry.
2. To enhance Texas' position as a leader in the digital economy, the Council shall consider strategies to develop a more educated workforce. Specifically, the Council shall consider: A. Which improvements in K-12 mathematics and science education programs might help meet the workforce needs of the high tech industry. B. How to improve the technology training for primary and secondary school teachers and how technology can be more fully integrated into the curriculum of Texas' schools. C. Whether current high school technology programs meet the workforce needs of the high tech industry. D. How Texas' community colleges can be a key to addressing the workforce demands of the high tech industry. E. How to encourage the movement of technology from university labratories into Texas' high tech companies.
3. The growth of the Internet brings new opportunities, such as greater information distributed more broadly, and new risks. The Council shall develop strategies to promote the broad opportunities that the Internet brings and shall consider what, if any, steps might be taken to minimize the adverse effects of the new risks. Specifically, the Council shall consider: A. How to bridge the digital divide and make the opportunities of the Internet available to more Texans. B. What consumer protection measures, including fraud protection, privacy protection and anti-spamming protection, can provide consumers with greater confidence in their use of the Internet as a tool for information and commerce. C. How to utilize the Internet as a means of addressing public health concerns regarding the delivery of medical information and services. D. How to utilize the Internet as a tool to allow for greater public participation in the democratic process. E. How to utilize the Internet as a means of enhancing rural economic development. F. What measures can be taken to give parents greater control over their children's use of the Internet.
Committee: Senate Advisory Council on the Digital Economy
Title: Interim Report
Library Catalog Title: Report of the Advisory Council on the Digital Economy (ACDE) : bringing digital opportunity to all Texans.
Subjects: Advisory Council on the Digital Economy, Texas | Business taxes | Community colleges | Consumer protection | Digital divide | Economic development | High tech employment | High tech industry | High technology | Internet | Privacy | State government contracts | Technology education |
Library Call Number: L1836.76 d569
Session: 76th R.S. (1999)
Online version: View report [45 pages  File size: 128 kb]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. With a focus on maintaining Texas' leadership in the digital economy, the Council shall consider strategies that (a) promote Texas' already-existing technology-friendly climate, (b) reduce governmental impediments to the greater economic opportunities for technology companies in Texas, and (c) encourage technology companies to locate in and remain in Texas. Specifically, the Council shall consider: A. How to create broad promotional efforts that highlight Texas' pro-technology business climate. B. How tax policy encourages or discourages the growth of Texas' high tech industry. C. How state government permitting, contracting and regulatory compliance processes affect the growth of Texas' high tech industry.
2. To enhance Texas' position as a leader in the digital economy, the Council shall consider strategies to develop a more educated workforce. Specifically, the Council shall consider: A. Which improvements in K-12 mathematics and science education programs might help meet the workforce needs of the high tech industry. B. How to improve the technology training for primary and secondary school teachers and how technology can be more fully integrated into the curriculum of Texas' schools. C. Whether current high school technology programs meet the workforce needs of the high tech industry. D. How Texas' community colleges can be a key to addressing the workforce demands of the high tech industry. E. How to encourage the movement of technology from university labratories into Texas' high tech companies.
3. The growth of the Internet brings new opportunities, such as greater information distributed more broadly, and new risks. The Council shall develop strategies to promote the broad opportunities that the Internet brings and shall consider what, if any, steps might be taken to minimize the adverse effects of the new risks. Specifically, the Council shall consider: A. How to bridge the digital divide and make the opportunities of the Internet available to more Texans. B. What consumer protection measures, including fraud protection, privacy protection and anti-spamming protection, can provide consumers with greater confidence in their use of the Internet as a tool for information and commerce. C. How to utilize the Internet as a means of addressing public health concerns regarding the delivery of medical information and services. D. How to utilize the Internet as a tool to allow for greater public participation in the democratic process. E. How to utilize the Internet as a means of enhancing rural economic development. F. What measures can be taken to give parents greater control over their children's use of the Internet.

Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.