84R469 DDT-D
	By: Bonnen of Galveston	H.B. No. 1984

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the aerospace and aviation office of the Texas Economic
	Development and Tourism Office and to the aerospace and aviation
	advisory committee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 481.0066, Government Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections (d-1),
	(d-2), (e-1), and (e-2) to read as follows:
	(d)  The aerospace and aviation office shall:
	(1)  analyze space-related and aviation-related
	research currently conducted in this state and may conduct
	activities designed to further that research;
	(2)  analyze the state's economic position in the
	aerospace and aviation industries;
	(3)  develop short-term and long-term business
	strategies as part of an industry-specific strategic plan to
	promote the retention, development, and expansion of aerospace and
	aviation industry facilities in the state that is consistent with
	and complementary of the office strategic plan;
	(4)  make specific recommendations to the legislature
	and the governor regarding the promotion of those industries;
	(5)  as part of and to further the purposes of the
	industry-specific strategic plan described by Subdivision (3),
	develop short-term and long-term policy initiatives or recommend
	reforms the state may undertake or implement to:
	(A)  increase commercial provider investment in
	aerospace activities;
	(B)  support the retention, development, and
	expansion of spaceports in this state;
	(C)  create a business-friendly environment to
	assist commercial providers in the aerospace industry in conducting
	business in this state;
	(D)  promote, develop, and expand tourism related
	to the aerospace industry;
	(E)  identify and encourage educational,
	economic, and defense-related opportunities for aerospace
	activities;
	(F)  increase funding for the spaceport trust fund
	created under Section 481.0069 and support ongoing projects that
	have been assisted by the fund, including recommending to the
	legislature an appropriate funding level for the fund;
	(G)  foster technological advancement and
	economic development for spaceport activities by strengthening
	higher education programs and supporting aerospace activities; and
	(H)  support initiatives that address the
	high-technology skills and staff resources needed to better promote
	the state's efforts in becoming the leading space exploration state
	in the nation;
	(6)  act as a liaison with other state and federal
	entities with related economic, educational, and defense
	responsibilities to support the marketing of the state's aerospace
	and aviation capabilities;
	(7) [(6)]  provide technical support and expertise to
	the state and to local spaceport authorities regarding aerospace
	and aviation business matters; and
	(8) [(7)]  be responsible for the promotion and
	development of spaceports in this state.
	(d-1)  The aerospace and aviation office shall make specific
	short-term and long-term statutory, administrative, and
	budget-related recommendations to the legislature and the governor
	regarding the policy initiatives and reforms described by
	Subsection (d)(5) that may be implemented by the state. The
	short-term recommendations must include two-year and four-year
	plans for state action that may be implemented or achieved on or
	before September 1, 2019, and September 1, 2021, respectively. The
	long-term recommendations must include 5-year, 10-year, and
	15-year plans for state action that may be implemented or achieved
	on or before September 1, 2022, September 1, 2027, and September 1,
	2032, respectively.  The aerospace and aviation office shall submit
	these recommendations to the legislature and governor with the
	biennial report required by Subsection (d-2) not later than
	December 1, 2016.  This subsection expires September 1, 2017.
	(d-2)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
	the aerospace and aviation office shall submit to the legislature
	and governor, in printed or electronic form, a report detailing the
	actions taken by the aerospace and aviation office in carrying out
	the policy initiatives and reforms under Subsection (d)(5) to
	further the purposes of the industry-specific strategic plan as
	specified in the recommendations required by Subsection (d-1),
	including:
	(1)  the status of all projects and activities;
	(2)  the funding of expenditures;
	(3)  the planning and research conducted;
	(4)  the provision of community and technical
	assistance;
	(5)  the collection of information; and
	(6)  an explanation of the ways in which the aerospace
	and aviation office has promoted the state's economic development
	goals through increased space exploration activities.
	(e)  The governor shall appoint an aerospace and aviation
	advisory committee consisting of seven qualified members to assist
	in the state's economic development efforts to recruit and retain
	aerospace and aviation jobs and investment.  The committee must
	consist of:
	(1)  one member who represents the interests of an
	active spaceport development corporation created in the lower Gulf
	Coast area of the state;
	(2)  one member who represents the interests of an
	active spaceport development corporation created in the West Texas
	area of the state;
	(3)  three members with an aerospace professional
	background who are selected from each of the following geographical
	areas of the state:
	(A)  upper Gulf Coast area;
	(B)  Central Texas area; and
	(C)  North Texas area; and
	(4)  two members who are selected from the state at
	large.
	(e-1)  The aerospace and aviation advisory committee shall:
	(1)  advise the governor on the recruitment and
	retention of aerospace and aviation jobs and investment;
	(2)  assist the office and the aerospace and aviation
	office in meeting the state's economic development efforts to
	recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investment;
	(3)  advise the office, the aerospace and aviation
	office, and the governor on an appropriate funding level for the
	spaceport trust fund;
	(4)  advise the office, the aerospace and aviation
	office, and the governor on recruitment, retention, and expansion
	of aerospace and aviation industry activities, including aerospace
	tourism initiatives; and
	(5)  collect and disseminate information on federal,
	state, local, and private community economic development programs
	that assist or provide loans, grants, or other funding to aerospace
	industry activities.
	(e-2)  Members of the aerospace and aviation advisory
	committee:
	(1)  shall serve staggered four-year terms; and
	(2)  may not receive compensation for serving on the
	committee.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The terms of the current members of the
	aerospace and aviation advisory committee expire on the effective
	date of this Act.  On that date or as soon as possible after that
	date, the governor shall appoint new members to the aerospace and
	aviation advisory committee in accordance with the requirements of
	Section 481.0066(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act.  The
	governor shall designate four members of the committee whose terms
	expire on February 1, 2017, and three members of the committee whose
	terms expire on February 1, 2019.
	(b)  A member of the aerospace and aviation advisory
	committee serving immediately before the effective date of this Act
	is eligible for reappointment to the committee if the person has the
	qualifications for a member under Section 481.0066(e), Government
	Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.