CHAPTER 143. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
EDUCATION CODE
TITLE 3. HIGHER EDUCATION
SUBTITLE H. RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION
CHAPTER 143. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
Sec. 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, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987.
Sec. 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, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987.
Sec. 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, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 621, Sec. 1, eff. June
14, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 303, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1,
1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 876, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 30, 1993;
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1500, Sec. 2, eff. June 19, 1999.
Sec. 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, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987.
Sec. 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 the purchasing authority of
the comptroller.
Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
937, Sec. 1.89, eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 143.0051. APPLIED RESEARCH FOR CLEAN COAL PROJECT AND OTHER
PROJECTS FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION. The coordinating board
shall use money available for the purpose from legislative
appropriations, including gifts, grants, and donations, to
support at one or more eligible institutions applied research
related to:
(1) the development, construction, and operation in this state
of a clean coal project, as defined by Section 5.001, Water Code;
or
(2) electricity generation using lignite coal deposits in this
state or integrated gasification combined cycle technology.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
1246, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.
Sec. 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, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 820, Sec. 34, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 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, Sec. 3.08, eff. June 20,
1987. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 820, Sec. 34, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 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, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1,
2003.