Bill Text: TX HB3988 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-20 - Referred to State Affairs [HB3988 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3988-Introduced.html
| 88R13813 SHH-D | ||
| By: Reynolds | H.B. No. 3988 | |
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| relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Chapter 482 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 482. TEXAS ADVANCED RESEARCH INSTITUTE | ||
| Sec. 482.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "institute" | ||
| means the Texas Advanced Research Institute. | ||
| Sec. 482.002. PURPOSES. The Texas Advanced Research | ||
| Institute is established in the office of the governor to: | ||
| (1) promote advanced research efforts in all | ||
| disciplines, including: | ||
| (A) energy; | ||
| (B) medicine; and | ||
| (C) biotechnology; | ||
| (2) attract, create, or expand research capabilities | ||
| of public or private institutions of higher education and other | ||
| public or private entities that will promote a substantial increase | ||
| in advanced research and development and in the creation of | ||
| inventions and patents in this state; | ||
| (3) ensure that this state invests and receives a | ||
| return on investment in advanced research and development | ||
| commensurate with the size and influence of this state's economy; | ||
| and | ||
| (4) serve as an intermediary between institutions of | ||
| higher education, the private sector, and other stakeholders to | ||
| develop the workforce of this state and equip that workforce with | ||
| skills and credentials for the jobs and professions of the future, | ||
| including technical skills. | ||
| Sec. 482.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Advanced | ||
| Research Institute is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). | ||
| Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the | ||
| institute is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2035. | ||
| Sec. 482.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The institute: | ||
| (1) may make grants to provide funding to public or | ||
| private persons to conduct research and development with the | ||
| objective of advancing knowledge, creating intellectual property, | ||
| and identifying commercial opportunities to monetize the products | ||
| resulting from advanced research and development; | ||
| (2) shall coordinate with participating public and | ||
| private persons to develop the Texas Advanced Research Plan; | ||
| (3) may support institutions of higher education, | ||
| advanced research facilities, and collaborations in this state in | ||
| all stages in the process of conducting and exploiting advanced | ||
| research and development; | ||
| (4) may establish the appropriate standards and | ||
| oversight bodies to ensure the proper use of funds authorized under | ||
| this chapter for advanced research and development; | ||
| (5) shall continuously monitor contracts and | ||
| agreements authorized by this chapter and ensure that each grant | ||
| recipient complies with the terms and conditions of the grant | ||
| contract; | ||
| (6) shall ensure that all grant proposals comply with | ||
| this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter before the | ||
| proposals are granted approval; and | ||
| (7) shall establish procedures to document that the | ||
| institute, its employees, and council members appointed under this | ||
| chapter comply with all laws governing the academic peer review | ||
| process and conflicts of interest where applicable. | ||
| (b) The institute shall implement the Texas Advanced | ||
| Research Plan and continually monitor and revise the plan as | ||
| necessary. | ||
| Sec. 482.005. LEADERSHIP, STAFF, AND RESOURCES. (a) The | ||
| institute is governed by a council of nine members appointed by the | ||
| governor. | ||
| (b) Members of the council serve staggered six-year terms | ||
| with one-third of the members' terms expiring on February 1 of each | ||
| odd-numbered year. | ||
| (c) The governor shall designate a member as the president | ||
| of the council to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the | ||
| governor. | ||
| (d) The office of the governor shall provide the institute | ||
| with necessary staff and resources to perform the institute's | ||
| duties under this chapter. | ||
| Sec. 482.006. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall | ||
| select the recipients of any grants awarded by the institute. | ||
| (b) The council may conduct surveys, research, or | ||
| investigations for the purposes of the institute. | ||
| Sec. 482.007. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least | ||
| once each year at the call of the president. | ||
| Sec. 482.008. FUNDING. (a) The institute may receive | ||
| state-appropriated funds for the purpose of supporting the | ||
| activities of the institute. | ||
| (b) The institute may solicit, accept, and use gifts, | ||
| grants, and donations from public and private sources for the | ||
| purposes of this chapter, subject only to limitations contained in | ||
| the gifts, grants, or donations. | ||
| (c) The institute may receive funding in the form of | ||
| royalties, license fees, and profits resulting from inventions, | ||
| discoveries, and products developed by or in partnership with, or | ||
| coordinated through, the institute. | ||
| SECTION 2. In appointing the initial members of the council | ||
| of the Texas Advanced Research Institute, the governor shall | ||
| appoint three members for terms expiring February 1, 2025, three | ||
| members for terms expiring February 1, 2027, and three members for | ||
| terms expiring February 1, 2029. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
