CHAPTER 490A. TEXAS ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK
GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
SUBTITLE F. COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 490A. TEXAS ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK
Sec. 490A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Entrepreneur participant" means an individual who has a
business or an idea for a business and registers with the
network.
(2) "Fund" means the Texas Entrepreneurship Network fund.
(3) "Network" means the Texas Entrepreneurship Network.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.001 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK. (a) The Texas
Entrepreneurship Network is established to develop and diversify
the economy of this state through:
(1) the provision of programs and services to facilitate the
growth and success of entrepreneurs; and
(2) the statewide, results-driven collaboration of public and
private entities to create jobs and energize sustainable local
economies through the development of entrepreneurs in this state.
(b) The Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship shall:
(1) operate the network under an agreement with the Department
of Agriculture and as provided by this chapter; and
(2) comply with all reasonable and customary oversight measures
required by the Department of Agriculture.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.002 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.003. MEMBERS OF NETWORK. (a) The founding members of
the network are:
(1) the Texas Cooperative Extension of The Texas A&M
University System;
(2) the IC2 Institute at The University of Texas at Austin;
(3) the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
at Texas Tech University;
(4) the Department of Agriculture;
(5) the Texas Workforce Commission;
(6) the Texas Department of Rural Affairs;
(7) the Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship;
(8) the Texas Economic Development Council;
(9) CoSERVE at The University of Texas--Pan American;
(10) the office of external affairs at Texas Southern
University; and
(11) the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor
University.
(b) An institution of higher education, chamber of commerce,
economic development corporation, business, or organization with
an interest in promoting entrepreneurship may join the network.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.003 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
112, Sec. 92, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 490A.004. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The Texas Center for Rural
Entrepreneurship shall establish an advisory board to guide and
advise the operations of the network.
(b) The advisory board consists of one representative from each
of the founding members of the network under Section 490A.003(a)
and at least one member from the private sector. An organization
other than a founding member of the network under Section
490A.003(a) may have a representative on the advisory board only
if the creation of an additional seat on the board is authorized
by a two-thirds majority vote of the existing board.
(c) The initial advisory board shall adopt provisions to
determine the terms of board members and stagger the members'
terms, and other provisions necessary to administer the board.
(d) Advisory board members serve without compensation but are
entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in
traveling to meetings related to the network.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.004 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.002(4), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.005. GENERAL DUTIES AND GOALS. (a) The network shall
train and refocus existing state and local resources to build a
more prosperous, dynamic, and sustainable economy throughout this
state by:
(1) providing coordinated training and services that enhance the
value of the state's existing infrastructure investments and make
the investments available to entrepreneur participants;
(2) developing a statewide network of entrepreneurship
developers and entrepreneurship centers as provided by Section
490A.006;
(3) developing a comprehensive network of knowledge, leadership,
and financial capital resources accessible through the network's
entrepreneurship developers and entrepreneurship centers;
(4) educating entrepreneur participants and generating awareness
of the network and its programs;
(5) identifying the most promising ventures through activities,
including business-plan competitions, and assisting the ventures'
potential for job and wealth creation;
(6) developing evaluation methods to measure the effectiveness
of the network and the impact of entrepreneurship on local and
regional economies;
(7) developing best practices for successful entrepreneurship
and applied research regarding critical success factors for
entrepreneurial businesses to provide a strategic competitive
advantage for businesses in this state; and
(8) collaborating with existing local, state, and federal
agencies and economic development professionals to use the
strengths and assets of the agencies and professionals.
(b) The network shall work locally, regionally, and statewide
with educators, agencies, organizations, networks, businesses,
economic developers, consultants, communities, researchers, or
other persons to develop and support strategies to assist
entrepreneur participants and improve the environment for
entrepreneurial development in this state.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.005 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.002(5), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.006. ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERVICES. (a) The network
shall develop a statewide association of local individuals who
are entrepreneurship developers trained to analyze, evaluate, and
develop business plans and help local entrepreneur participants
start, grow, or develop their businesses.
(b) The network may establish local entrepreneurship centers in
every county practicable, at which an entrepreneur participant
may access programs, necessary support, and online resources
provided and developed by the network. In establishing the
entrepreneurship centers, the network shall use existing
infrastructure, public and private organizations, and other
resources, including chambers of commerce, universities and
community colleges, county extension offices, Texas Workforce
Commission offices, and local business offices.
(c) The network shall adopt requirements for entrepreneurship
centers. An organization must meet the requirements adopted under
this subsection before hosting an entrepreneurship center.
(d) A group of individuals who have services, resources, or
expertise to offer entrepreneur participants may agree to provide
services through the network as an entrepreneurship force.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.006 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.007. NETWORK PROGRAMS. The network may develop:
(1) programs for:
(A) business plan development, competitive enhancement, and
management skills development;
(B) entrepreneurship best practices training;
(C) entrepreneurship education in primary and secondary schools
and community colleges;
(D) expanding entrepreneurship in workforce development
programs;
(E) accessing sources of start-up and growth capital;
(F) training and assisting entrepreneurship agents who
facilitate and assist entrepreneurial efforts; and
(G) community readiness preparation and evaluation, and
community planning;
(2) methods for helping entrepreneur participants access other
loan, guarantee, and grant programs;
(3) necessary policies and regulations; and
(4) collaborations with other entities.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.007 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.008. TEXAS ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK FUND. (a) The
Texas Entrepreneurship Network fund is an account in the general
revenue fund. The Department of Agriculture shall administer the
fund.
(b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:
(1) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for the fund;
and
(2) gifts, grants, and other donations received for the fund.
(c) The fund may be used only for network purposes, subject to
Section 490A.009.
(d) The network may solicit and accept gifts and grants for the
fund from public and private universities and all other public
and private entities.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.008 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.002(6), eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 490A.009. USE OF FUND. Money appropriated to the fund by
the legislature shall be used for:
(1) programs related to local entrepreneurship centers,
training, and entrepreneurship developers;
(2) curriculum development, infrastructure, data management, and
research;
(3) technology and economic development research centers of
excellence;
(4) the network's overhead expenses; and
(5) other activities necessary to accomplish the mission of this
chapter.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
593, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.009 by Acts 2007,
80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
921, Sec. 17.001(30), eff. September 1, 2007.