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H.B. No. 1747
AN ACT
relating to the creation of and funding for the Texas
Entrepreneurship Network.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 490 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 490. TEXAS ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK
Sec. 490.001. 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.
Sec. 490.002. 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.
Sec. 490.003. 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 Office of Rural Community 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.
Sec. 490.004. 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
490.003(a) and at least one member from the private sector. An
organization other than a founding member of the network under
Section 490.003(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.
Sec. 490.005. 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 490.006;
(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.
Sec. 490.006. 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.
Sec. 490.007. 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.
Sec. 490.008. 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 490.009.
(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.
Sec. 490.009. 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.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1747 was passed by the House on April
27, 2005, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1747 on May 23, 2005, by a non-record
vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1747 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 20, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor