HBA-MPA, TYH H.B. 2992 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2992
By: Davis, John
Economic Development
7/13/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has supported
technology outreach programs in at least one other state, in accordance
with its charter, which states that technologies developed during space
exploration are to be shared with American companies.  Florida has
developed a Technological Research and Development Authority which has been
successful in coordinating the efforts of county economic development
organizations and the NASA-Kennedy Space Center to apply NASA and private
aerospace engineering expertise to challenges to local businesses, at no
cost to the businesses.  H.B. 2992 creates a business technology outreach
program to assist Texas businesses in making use of technology developed by
NASA. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the board of regents of the University
of Houston System in SECTION 1 (Section 111.42, Education Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 111, Education Code, by adding
Section 111.42, as follows: 

Sec. 111.42.  BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM.  (a)  Requires the
board of regents of the University of Houston System (board) to develop and
establish a business technology outreach program (program) to assist
businesses in this state to make use of technology developed by the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Requires the board to
work with NASA, appropriate businesses, and economic development
organizations in this state to carry out the program.  
 
(b)  Authorizes the board, from money appropriated to or otherwise under
the control of the board, to award grants to economic development
organizations for use in recruiting appropriate businesses for
participation in the program and provide other appropriate assistance to
program participants.  

(c)  Requires the board to appoint an advisory board of technical advisors
to evaluate requests from economic development organizations and businesses
for assistance under the program and advise the board on distribution of
the assistance.  

(d)  Requires the board to adopt rules to administer the program, including
rules relating to application and eligibility for grants.  Authorizes the
board to enter agreements as necessary to carry out the program. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the board, before September 1, 2000, to provide
assistance under Section 111.42, Education Code, as added by this Act, only
in a county with a population of more than 200,000 that contains, or is
contiguous to a county that contains, a NASA facility.  Authorizes the
board, on and after September 1, 2000, to provide the assistance throughout
the state. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act does not make an appropriation and that
Section 1 of this Act does not require the board to establish the program
unless money is specifically appropriated to fund the program. 
 
SECTION 4.  Provides that this Act takes effect only if a specific
appropriation for its implementation is provided in H.B. 1 (General
Appropriations Act), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,
and that if no such appropriation is provided this Act has no effect.  

SECTION 5.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 6.  Emergency clause.