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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas |
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Semiconductor Innovation Consortium. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter GG to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER GG. TEXAS SEMICONDUCTOR INNOVATION CONSORTIUM |
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Sec. 481.651. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Consortium" means the Texas Semiconductor |
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Innovation Consortium. |
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(2) "Executive committee" means the executive |
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committee of the consortium. |
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(3) "Fund" means the Texas Semiconductor Innovation |
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Fund. |
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(4) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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Sec. 481.652. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. (a) The Texas |
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Semiconductor Innovation Consortium is established as an advisory |
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panel to the governor and the legislature. |
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(b) The purposes of the consortium are to: |
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(1) leverage the expertise and capacity of |
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institutions of higher education, industry, and nonprofit |
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stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure |
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ongoing semiconductor innovation; |
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(2) sustain the leadership of this state in advanced |
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semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing; |
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(3) attract public and private investment in this |
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state related to research, development, commercialization, and |
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manufacturing of semiconductors; |
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(4) identify and expand opportunities for workforce |
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training and development related to the research, design, and |
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manufacturing of semiconductors; and |
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(5) establish a forum for public and private |
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stakeholders across the semiconductor manufacturing industry in |
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this state to focus on education, research and development, and |
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commercial production. |
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Sec. 481.653. COMPOSITION OF CONSORTIUM. (a) The |
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consortium is composed of a designee of each of the following |
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institutions of higher education appointed by the office of the |
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president of the institution: |
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(1) The University of Texas at Arlington; |
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(2) The University of Texas at Austin; |
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(3) The University of Texas at Dallas; |
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(4) The University of Texas at El Paso; |
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(5) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; |
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(6) The University of Texas at San Antonio; |
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(7) Texas A&M University; |
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(8) Prairie View A&M University; |
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(9) the University of Houston; |
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(10) the University of North Texas; |
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(11) Texas Tech University; |
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(12) Texas State University; |
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(13) Lamar University; |
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(14) Lamar State College - Orange; |
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(15) Lamar State College - Port Arthur: |
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(16) Lamar Institute of Technology; |
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(17) Austin Community College; and |
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(18) Dallas Community College. |
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(b) In addition to the appointments under Subsection (a), |
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the executive committee established under Section 481.655 may |
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appoint any other entity or individual the executive committee |
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considers necessary. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsections (a) and (b), |
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priority shall be given to individuals with experience in |
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semiconductor design and manufacturing. |
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Sec. 481.654. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. (a) The |
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consortium is administratively attached to the office of the |
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governor. |
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(b) The office shall provide the staff and facilities |
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necessary to assist the consortium in performing the consortium's |
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duties under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 481.655. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a) The |
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consortium is governed by an executive committee composed of the |
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following members: |
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(1) three members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; |
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(4) the chancellor of The Texas A&M University System |
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or the chancellor's designee; and |
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(5) the chancellor of The University of Texas System |
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or the chancellor's designee. |
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(b) In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority |
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shall be given to individuals with experience in manufacturing, |
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design, industrial development, academic research, and scientific |
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research in the field of semiconductors. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsection (a), the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall coordinate to ensure that at least two |
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representatives from the commercial semiconductor design and |
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manufacturing sectors with an established presence in the state are |
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appointed to the executive committee. |
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Sec. 481.656. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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executive committee shall: |
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(1) develop and execute a comprehensive statewide |
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strategic plan to further the objectives of the consortium as |
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established under Section 481.652; |
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(2) solicit recommendations from consortium members |
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on funding and research opportunities related to semiconductor |
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research, design, commercialization, and manufacturing; |
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(3) appoint an executive director of the consortium |
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and determine the title, functions, duties, powers, and salary for |
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the executive director; and |
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(4) prepare and submit the report required by Section |
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481.657. |
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(b) The executive director may enter into agreements with |
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the office of the governor for staff support services to facilitate |
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the work of the consortium. |
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Sec. 481.657. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each even-numbered year, the executive committee shall prepare and |
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submit to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board a written |
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report that outlines: |
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(1) activities undertaken to meet the purposes of the |
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consortium under Section 481.652; |
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(2) a summary of the funding and research |
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opportunities identified under Section 481.656(a)(2); |
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(3) any legislative recommendations to further the |
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purposes of the consortium; |
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(4) any prospective grants or funding the consortium |
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members expect to apply for or receive; and |
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(5) any research accomplishments associated with the |
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consortium. |
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Sec. 481.658. TEXAS SEMICONDUCTOR INNOVATION FUND. (a) |
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The Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund is created as a dedicated |
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account within the general revenue fund. The fund consists of: |
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(1) gifts, grants, or donations to the fund; and |
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(2) money from any other source designated by the |
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legislature. |
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(b) Money in the fund may be used to: |
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(1) provide matching funding to state entities, |
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including institutions of higher education, for semiconductor |
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manufacturing and design projects; |
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(2) award grants to business entities with an |
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established presence in this state to encourage economic |
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development related to semiconductor manufacturing and design; and |
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(3) subject to Subsection (c), pay for staff support |
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services described by Section 481.656(b). |
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(c) The consortium shall request from the Legislative |
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Budget Board approval to use money in the fund for the purpose |
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described by Subsection (b)(3). A request under this subsection |
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shall be considered approved on the 30th day after receipt by the |
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Legislative Budget Board unless expressly disapproved. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |