HBA-MPM H.B. 2803 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2803 By: George Higher Education 3/18/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Biotechnology is the use of biological processes and organisms to make products or modify plants, animals, or micro-organisms. This technology has produced genetically-improved cotton plants, human insulin produced using recombinant DNA technologies, and a synthetic peptide that has been shown to double the rate of healing in dermal wounds and bone fractures. H.B. 2803 encourages and provides support for basic research in biotechnology, biogenetics, and directly related disciplines at various institutions to facilitate research in this field. It also specifically requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to administer this initiative and sets forth an advisory committee and methods of funding. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle H, Education Code, by adding Chapter 151, as follows: CHAPTER 151. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOGENETICS RESEARCH INITIATIVE. Sec. 151.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines, for the purpose of this chapter, the following terms: "biotechnology and biogenetics research," "coordinating board," "eligible institution," "eligible program," "faculty member," and "initiative." Sec. 151.002. PURPOSE. Sets forth the purpose of the biotechnology and biogenetics research initiative. Sec. 151.003. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to administer the initiative. (b) Requires the board to utilize an advisory committee (committee), the majority of which consists of experts in biotechnology and biogenetics research, to provide advice regarding the board's development of research priorities, guidelines, and procedures to be used in selecting eligible programs. (c) Specifies that the guidelines and procedures developed by the board must provide for awards to be made to eligible projects based on certain criteria. Sec. 151.004. FUNDING. Provides that the initiative is funded by appropriations and by gifts, grants, and donations. Requires the Comptroller of Public Accounts (comptroller) to issue warrants to each eligible institution in the amount certified by the board from the available funds. Authorizes the funds to be expended to support the eligible program for which an award is made, and prohibits the funds from being expended for the general support of ongoing research at an eligible institution or for the construction or remodeling of a facility. Sec. 151.005. PROJECT REVIEW. Requires the board to utilize an advisory committee (committee) in administering the fund, the majority of which must be experts in biotechology and biogenetics research. Requires the committee to consist of nine members, with three to be selected by the governor, three by the lieutenant governor, and three by the speaker of the house of representatives. Requires the committee to evaluate the initiative's effectiveness and report its findings to the board and legislature no later than September 1 of each year. Requires the committee to include in its report any recommendations concerning funding allocations and proposals for future funding. SECTION 2. Amends Section 382.002, Local Government Code, to include biotechnology and biogenetics among those projects to be researched by the county research and development authorities as created by Chapter 382 (County Research and Development Authorities), Local Government Code. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days upon adjournment.