S.B. No. 458

	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 investment in aerospace and
	aviation activities;
	(B)  support the retention, development, and
	expansion of spaceports in this state;
	(C)  identify and encourage educational,
	economic, and defense-related opportunities for aerospace and
	aviation activities;
	(D)  determine the appropriate level of 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;
	(E)  partner with the Texas Higher Education
	Coordinating Board to foster technological advancement and
	economic development for spaceport activities by strengthening
	higher education programs and supporting aerospace activities; and
	(F)  partner with the Texas Workforce Commission
	to 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 a plan for state action for
	implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2017.  The
	initiatives and reforms in the short-term plan must be fully
	implemented by September 1, 2020.  The long-term recommendations
	must include a plan for state action for implementation beginning
	not later than September 1, 2020.  The initiatives and reforms in
	the long-term plan must be fully implemented by September 1, 2025.
	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)  a summary of work performed as part of the
	aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas Higher
	Education Coordinating Board, including a summary prepared by the
	board of the research conducted by public senior colleges or
	universities, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
	(4)  a summary of work performed as part of the
	aerospace and aviation office's partnership with the Texas
	Workforce Commission; and
	(5)  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:
	(1)  seven qualified members to assist in the state's
	economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and
	aviation jobs and investment; and
	(2)  one member for each active spaceport development
	corporation in the state who represents the interests of each
	respective spaceport development corporation.
	(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; 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
	and aviation 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.
	(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.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 458 passed the Senate on
	April 16, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 458 passed the House on
	May 8, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 124, Nays 10, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor