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.