HBA-TYH S.C.R. 9 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.C.R. 9 By: Ellis Economic Development 4/21/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In September of 1996, the increasing importance of science and technology businesses in generating much of the nation's economic growth and job creation prompted the establishment of the Texas Science and Technology Council (council) to review the state's science and technology industries, identify factors critical to their growth, and develop a long-term plan to encourage science and technology development in Texas. Science and technology has much influence over the Texas economy. While advancements in these fields have helped create new industries in the state, from computer manufacturing and software development to information services, biotechnology, and aerospace, many of the state's traditional industries, including the agriculture, chemicals, and petroleum industries, have also become heavily dependent on new technologies to boost and improve production. These developments have allowed Texas' technology-related industries to grow at about twice the rate of the state's economy as a whole and made Texas the nation's leading employer of high technology workers and the second largest employer in the computer, microelectronics, and telecommunications industries. While numerous public and private sector organizations, task forces, and panels in Texas have promoted science and technology development over the past decades, their valuable efforts have been short-lived, and none has developed into a long-term, sustainable organization capable of providing constant leadership, advice, and direction for the legislature in particular and for the state's economic development as a whole. To fill this need for continuity, the council has recommended the establishment of a permanent, private sector driven, privately funded Texas Institute of Science and Technology (institute) to provide this leadership, advice, and direction and to identify, support, and promote science and technology-based opportunities for Texas. Envisioned by the council as a nonprofit corporation with strong ties to industry, government, and the education community, the proposed institute would be a public-private collaborative effort receiving input from the state's key technology industry sectors and economic subregions to develop statewide technology initiatives addressing every stage of the technology life cycle, from research to commercialization. S.C.R. 9 endorses the establishment of the Texas Institute of Science and Technology as an appropriate vehicle for providing leadership in the identification and promotion of science and technology-based economic opportunities for the state. 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 S.C.R. 9 endorses the establishment of the Texas Institute of Science and Technology (institute) as an appropriate vehicle for providing leadership in the identification and promotion of science and technology-based economic opportunities for the state. Provides that the legislature grant this endorsement with the understanding that the institute will be wholly privately funded and will not require the allocation of state resources or assets such as facilities or infrastructure, except that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is hereby authorized to work with the private sector participants in the institute's establishment.