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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2992
By: Davis, John
Economic Development
4/7/1999
Introduced



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 NASA-Kennedy Space Center to apply NASA and private
aerospace engineering expertise to the 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 Texas Aerospace Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 482.004, Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 482, Government Code, by adding Section 482.004,
as follows: 

Sec. 482.004.  BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM.  (a)  Requires the
Texas Aerospace Commission (commission) to develop a business technology
outreach program to assist businesses in this state to make use of
technology developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA).  Requires the commission to work with NASA, appropriate businesses,
and economic development organizations in this state to carry out the
program.  
 
(b)  Authorizes the commission, from money in the commission account, 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 commission to appoint a board of technical advisors to
evaluate requests from economic development organizations and businesses
for assistance under the program and advise the commission on distribution
of the assistance.  

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

SECTION 2.  Requires the commission, before September 1, 2000, to provide
assistance under Section 482.004, Government 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
commission, on and after September 1, 2000, to provide the assistance
throughout the state. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.