2005 Texas Education Code CHAPTER 143. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

EDUCATION CODE

CHAPTER 143. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM


	§ 143.001. DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                                   
		(1)  "Applied research" means research directed at 
gaining the knowledge or understanding necessary to meet a specific 
and recognized need, including the discovery of new scientific 
knowledge that has specific objectives relating to products or 
processes.
		(2)  "Coordinating board" has the meaning assigned by 
Section 141.001 of this code.
		(3)  "Eligible institution" has the meaning assigned to 
public institutions of higher education under Section 61.003(8) of 
this code and private institutions eligible to grant degrees in the 
state as defined in the same manner.
		(4)  "Technology program" means the advanced 
technology program established under this chapter.
		(5)  "Faculty member" means a person who is tenured or 
in a tenure track position or a research professional employed by an 
eligible institution.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.      


	§ 143.002. ESTABLISHMENT;  PURPOSE.  (a) It is essential 
to the state's economic growth that it exploit the potential of 
technology to advance the development and growth of technology and 
that industry be promoted and expanded.  The advanced technology 
program is established as a means to accomplish this purpose.
	(b)  Providing appropriated funds to faculty members of 
public and private institutions of higher education to conduct 
applied research is important to the state's welfare and, 
consequently, is an important public purpose for the expenditure of 
public funds because the applied research will enhance the state's 
economic growth by:
		(1)  educating the state's scientists and engineers;                          
		(2)  creating new products and production processes;  
and                   
		(3)  contributing to the application of science and 
technology to state businesses.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.      


	§ 143.003. PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS.  The technology 
program may provide support for faculty members to conduct research 
in areas determined by an advisory panel appointed by the 
coordinating board.  Initial research areas shall include:  
agriculture, biotechnology, biomedicine, energy, environment, 
materials science, microelectronics, aerospace, marine science, 
aquaculture, telecommunications, manufacturing science, 
environmental issues affecting the Texas-Mexico border region, the 
reduction of industrial, agricultural, and domestic water use, 
recycling, and related disciplines.  The advisory panel may add or 
delete priority research areas as the panel considers warranted.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.  Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 621, § 1, eff. June 
14, 1989;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 303, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 
1991;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 876, § 2, eff. Aug. 30, 1993;  
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1500, § 2, eff. June 19, 1999.


	§ 143.004. ADMINISTRATION;  GUIDELINES AND 
PROCEDURES.  (a) The coordinating board shall administer the 
technology program.
	(b)  The coordinating board shall determine whether a public 
or private institution of higher education authorized to grant 
degrees in this state qualifies as an eligible institution for the 
purposes of this chapter.  To be designated as an eligible 
institution, an institution of higher education must demonstrate 
exceptional capability to attract federal, state, and private 
funding for scientific and technical research and have an 
exceptionally strong research staff and the necessary equipment and 
facilities.
	(c)  The coordinating board shall appoint an advisory 
committee that consists of experts in the priority research areas 
to advise the coordinating board regarding the board's development 
of research priorities, guidelines, and procedures for the 
selection of specific projects at eligible institutions.
	(d)  The guidelines and procedures developed by the 
coordinating board under Subsection (c) of this section shall 
provide for awards on a competitive, peer review basis for specific 
projects at eligible institutions.  The coordinating board shall 
encourage projects that leverage funds from other sources and 
projects that propose innovative, collaborative efforts:
		(1)  across academic disciplines;                                             
		(2)  among two or more eligible institutions;  or                             
		(3)  between an eligible institution or institutions 
and private industry.  

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.      


	§ 143.005. FUNDS.  (a) The technology program is funded 
by appropriations and by gifts, grants, and donations made for that 
purpose.
	(b)  From funds appropriated for the program, the 
comptroller of public accounts shall issue warrants to each 
eligible institution in the amount certified by the coordinating 
board to the comptroller.
	(c)  The funds for the technology program may be expended to 
support particular research projects for which an award is made, 
and may not be expended for the general support of ongoing research 
and instruction at an eligible institution or for the construction 
or remodeling of a facility.
	(d)  Research projects shall be reviewed and funded each 
biennium.           
	(e)  Funds appropriated for the technology program may be 
used to match a grant provided by private industry for a particular 
collaborative research project with an eligible institution.
	(f)  Supplies, materials, services, and equipment purchased 
with these funds shall not be subject to State Purchasing and 
General Services Commission authority.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.      


	§ 143.006. PROGRESS REPORTS.  An institution receiving 
funds under this chapter shall report on the progress of the funded 
research to the coordinating board not later than the date 
specified by the coordinating board each year.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 820, § 34, eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 143.007. MERIT REVIEW.  The coordinating board shall 
appoint a committee consisting of representatives of higher 
education and private enterprise advanced technology research 
organizations to evaluate the technology program's effectiveness 
and report its findings to the coordinating board not later than 
January 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, § 3.08, eff. June 20, 
1987.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 820, § 34, eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 143.008. CONFIDENTIALITY.  Information submitted as 
part of a pre-proposal or proposal or related to the evaluation and 
selection of research projects to be funded by the technology 
program is confidential unless made public by coordinating board 
rule.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 820, § 35, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.