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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the aerospace and aviation office of the Texas Economic |
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Development and Tourism Office and to the aerospace and aviation |
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advisory committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 481.0066, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections (d-1), |
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(d-2), (e-1), and (e-2) to read as follows: |
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(d) The aerospace and aviation office shall: |
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(1) analyze space-related and aviation-related |
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research currently conducted in this state and may conduct |
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activities designed to further that research; |
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(2) analyze the state's economic position in the |
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aerospace and aviation industries; |
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(3) develop short-term and long-term business |
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strategies as part of an industry-specific strategic plan to |
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promote the retention, development, and expansion of aerospace and |
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aviation industry facilities in the state that is consistent with |
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and complementary of the office strategic plan; |
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(4) make specific recommendations to the legislature |
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and the governor regarding the promotion of those industries; |
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(5) as part of and to further the purposes of the |
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industry-specific strategic plan described by Subdivision (3), |
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develop short-term and long-term policy initiatives or recommend |
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reforms the state may undertake or implement to: |
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(A) increase investment in aerospace and |
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aviation activities; |
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(B) support the retention, development, and |
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expansion of spaceports in this state; |
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(C) identify and encourage educational, |
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economic, and defense-related opportunities for aerospace and |
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aviation activities; |
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(D) increase funding for the spaceport trust fund |
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created under Section 481.0069 and support ongoing projects that |
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have been assisted by the fund, including recommending to the |
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legislature an appropriate funding level for the fund; |
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(E) partner with the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board to foster technological advancement and |
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economic development for spaceport activities by strengthening |
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higher education programs and supporting aerospace activities; and |
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(F) partner with the Texas Workforce Commission |
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to support initiatives that address the high-technology skills and |
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staff resources needed to better promote the state's efforts in |
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becoming the leading space exploration state in the nation; |
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(6) act as a liaison with other state and federal |
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entities with related economic, educational, and defense |
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responsibilities to support the marketing of the state's aerospace |
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and aviation capabilities; |
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(7) [(6)] provide technical support and expertise to |
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the state and to local spaceport authorities regarding aerospace |
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and aviation business matters; and |
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(8) [(7)] be responsible for the promotion and |
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development of spaceports in this state. |
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(d-1) The aerospace and aviation office shall make specific |
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short-term and long-term statutory, administrative, and |
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budget-related recommendations to the legislature and the governor |
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regarding the policy initiatives and reforms described by |
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Subsection (d)(5) that may be implemented by the state. The |
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short-term recommendations must include a plan for state action for |
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implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2017. The |
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initiatives and reforms in the short-term plan must be fully |
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implemented by September 1, 2020. The long-term recommendations |
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must include a plan for state action for implementation beginning |
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not later than September 1, 2020. The initiatives and reforms in |
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the long-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2025. |
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The aerospace and aviation office shall submit these |
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recommendations to the legislature and governor with the biennial |
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report required by Subsection (d-2) not later than December 1, |
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2016. This subsection expires September 1, 2017. |
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(d-2) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the aerospace and aviation office shall submit to the legislature |
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and governor, in printed or electronic form, a report detailing the |
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actions taken by the aerospace and aviation office in carrying out |
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the policy initiatives and reforms under Subsection (d)(5) to |
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further the purposes of the industry-specific strategic plan as |
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specified in the recommendations required by Subsection (d-1), |
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including: |
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(1) the status of all projects and activities; |
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(2) the funding of expenditures; |
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(3) a summary of work performed as part of the |
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aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board, including a summary prepared by the |
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board of the research conducted by public senior colleges or |
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universities, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; |
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(4) a summary of work performed as part of the |
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aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas |
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Workforce Commission; and |
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(5) an explanation of the ways in which the aerospace |
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and aviation office has promoted the state's economic development |
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goals through increased space exploration activities. |
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(e) The governor shall appoint an aerospace and aviation |
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advisory committee consisting of: |
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(1) seven qualified members to assist in the state's |
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economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and |
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aviation jobs and investment; and |
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(2) one member for each active spaceport development |
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corporation in the state who represents the interests of each |
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respective spaceport development corporation. |
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(e-1) The aerospace and aviation advisory committee shall: |
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(1) advise the governor on the recruitment and |
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retention of aerospace and aviation jobs and investment; |
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(2) assist the office and the aerospace and aviation |
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office in meeting the state's economic development efforts to |
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recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investment; |
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(3) advise the office, the aerospace and aviation |
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office, and the governor on an appropriate funding level for the |
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spaceport trust fund; |
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(4) advise the office, the aerospace and aviation |
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office, and the governor on recruitment, retention, and expansion |
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of aerospace and aviation industry activities; and |
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(5) collect and disseminate information on federal, |
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state, local, and private community economic development programs |
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that assist or provide loans, grants, or other funding to aerospace |
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and aviation industry activities. |
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(e-2) Members of the aerospace and aviation advisory |
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committee: |
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(1) shall serve staggered four-year terms; and |
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(2) may not receive compensation for serving on the |
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committee. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The terms of the current members of the |
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aerospace and aviation advisory committee expire on the effective |
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date of this Act. On that date or as soon as possible after that |
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date, the governor shall appoint new members to the aerospace and |
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aviation advisory committee in accordance with the requirements of |
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Section 481.0066(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(b) A member of the aerospace and aviation advisory |
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committee serving immediately before the effective date of this Act |
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is eligible for reappointment to the committee if the person has the |
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qualifications for a member under Section 481.0066(e), Government |
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Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |