H.B. No. 387
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the repeal of the law relating to the Texas National
  Research Laboratory Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 51.604, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 51.604.  USE OF FUND.  The commissioner shall allocate
  the fund to eligible nonprofit organizations for the purpose of:
               (1)  establishing or operating educational programs to
  assist women or minority group members in preparing for or
  participating in programs leading to an undergraduate degree in
  engineering or science from an institution of higher education;
               (2)  disseminating information concerning:
                     (A)  educational and career opportunities in
  engineering and science; and
                     (B)  the fund and programs funded under this
  subchapter; and
               (3)  establishing or operating programs to assist women
  and minority group members in preparing for careers in
  superconductivity research, including:
                     (A)  recruitment seminars and mentorship
  programs, in cooperation with [the Texas National Research
  Laboratory Commission and] institutions of higher education that
  conduct superconductivity research;
                     (B)  career exploration programs, in cooperation
  with public school districts; and
                     (C)  career exploration programs, recruitment
  seminars, and mentorship programs, in cooperation with engineering
  and scientific research organizations.
         SECTION 2.  Section 65.33, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 65.33.  EMINENT DOMAIN. (a)  The board has the power of
  eminent domain to acquire for the use of the university system any
  land that may be necessary and proper for carrying out its purposes
  in the manner prescribed by Chapter 21, Property Code [in Title 52,
  Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended].
         (b)  Whenever the board has been made trustees by a will,
  instrument in writing, or otherwise of a trust for a scientific,
  educational, philanthropic, or charitable purpose, or other trust
  for a public purpose, it may act by a quorum of the board or a
  majority of all members. Unless otherwise directed by the terms of
  the will or instrument, as trustees the board may exercise for the
  purpose of the trust the power of eminent domain and may condemn
  land and other property as provided by Chapter 21, Property Code
  [Title 52, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended].
         (c)  [In the event that the federal government awards the
  Super-conducting Super Collider Accelerator project to one or more
  institutions of higher education in the State of Texas, one of which
  is a component of The University of Texas System and/or The Texas A &
  M University System, and the governor with the advice of the
  Houston Area Research Center Board determines that the board of
  regents of The University of Texas System should select the site for
  the construction of this project on permanent university fund
  lands, the board shall use its best efforts to find a suitable site
  on permanent university fund lands. If the board determines that it
  is not feasible to locate the project wholly on permanent
  university fund lands and the legislature has appropriated funds
  for such purpose, the board may exercise the power of eminent domain
  to acquire, on behalf of the state, title and right-of-way
  easements in such land in addition to permanent university fund
  lands as the board may determine is necessary and appropriate for
  the project. If a component of both The University of Texas System
  and The Texas A & M University System are members of the consortium
  that is awarded the Super-conducting Super Collider Accelerator
  project, the board of regents of The University of Texas System
  shall not proceed to select a site and to exercise the power of
  eminent domain without a resolution of concurrence from the board
  of regents of The Texas A & M University System.
         [(d)] The taking of the property is declared to be for the
  use of the state. The board is [shall] not [be] required to deposit
  a bond or the amount equal to the award of damages by the
  commissioners as provided by Section 21.021, Property Code [in
  Paragraph 2, Article 3268, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925].
         SECTION 3.  Section 661.031(2), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (2)  "State employee" means an individual who is an
  appointed officer or employee of a state agency and who normally
  works 900 hours or more a year. The term includes:
                     (A)  an hourly employee;
                     (B)  a temporary employee;
                     (C)  a person employed by:
                           (i)  the Teacher Retirement System of Texas;
                           (ii)  the Texas Education Agency;
                           (iii)  the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board;
                           (iv)  [the Texas National Research
  Laboratory Commission;
                           [(v)] the Texas School for the Blind and
  Visually Impaired;
                           (v) [(vi)]  the Texas School for the Deaf;
                           (vi) [(vii)]  the Texas Youth Commission;
                           (vii) [(viii)]  the Windham School District;
  or
                           (viii) [(ix)]  the Department of Assistive
  and Rehabilitative Services [Texas Rehabilitation Commission];
  and
                     (D)  a classified, administrative, faculty, or
  professional employee of a state institution or agency of higher
  education who has accumulated vacation leave, sick leave, or both,
  during the employment.
         SECTION 4.  Section 661.061(2), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (2)  "State employee" means an employee or appointed
  officer of a state agency. The term includes:
                     (A)  a full-time employee or officer;
                     (B)  a part-time employee or officer;
                     (C)  an hourly employee;
                     (D)  a temporary employee;
                     (E)  a person employed by:
                           (i)  the Teacher Retirement System of Texas;
                           (ii)  the Texas Education Agency;
                           (iii)  the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board;
                           (iv)  [the Texas National Research
  Laboratory Commission;
                           [(v)]  the Texas School for the Blind and
  Visually Impaired;
                           (v) [(vi)]  the Texas School for the Deaf;
                           (vi) [(vii)]  the Texas Youth Commission;
                           (vii) [(viii)]  the Windham School District;
  or
                           (viii) [(ix)]  the Department of Assistive
  and Rehabilitative Services [Texas Rehabilitation Commission]; or
                     (F)  a classified, administrative, faculty, or
  professional employee of a state institution or agency of higher
  education who has accumulated vacation leave during the employment.
         SECTION 5.  Section 1232.101, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1232.101.  ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR CERTAIN STATE
  AGENCIES.  With respect to all bonds authorized to be issued by the
  Texas Military Facilities Commission, [Texas National Research
  Laboratory Commission,] Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas
  Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority, Stephen F. Austin
  State University, Midwestern State University, and Texas Southern
  University, the authority has the exclusive authority to act on
  behalf of those entities in issuing bonds on their behalf. In
  connection with those issuances and with the issuance of refunding
  bonds on behalf of those entities, the authority is subject to all
  rights, duties, and conditions surrounding issuance previously
  applicable to the issuing entity under the statute authorizing the
  issuance. A reference in an authorizing statute to the entity on
  whose behalf the bonds are being issued applies equally to the
  authority in its capacity as issuer on behalf of the entity.
         SECTION 6.  Sections 2301.062 and 2301.064, Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 2301.062.  AGREEMENTS.  A public entity or state agency
  may make agreements with and accept donations, grants, and loans
  from any person, including the United States, this state, a
  department or agency of this state, a public entity, and a public or
  private corporation, including any authority [and the Texas
  National Research Laboratory Commission].
         Sec. 2301.064.  USE OF FUNDS.  A public entity or state
  agency may:
               (1)  use its funds, including tax revenues, to plan,
  acquire, construct, own, operate, maintain, or enhance eligible
  projects, including, in the case of a public entity, eligible
  projects located outside the jurisdiction or boundaries of the
  public entity if the governing body of the public entity determines
  that the project will contribute to the development and
  diversification of the economy, the elimination of unemployment or
  underemployment, or the development or expansion of commerce within
  the public entity;
               (2)  levy taxes to provide for payment of amounts
  required under agreements with any person, including the United
  States, the state, a department and agency of this state, a public
  entity, and a public or private corporation, including any
  authority [and the Texas National Research Laboratory Commission];
  and
               (3)  pledge tax revenue to the payment of agreements.
         SECTION 7.  Section 25.07(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c) of Section
  11.11 of this code, a leasehold or other possessory interest in
  exempt property may not be listed if:
               (1)  the property is permanent university fund land;
               (2)  the property is county public school fund
  agricultural land;
               (3)  the property is a part of a public transportation
  facility owned by an incorporated city or town and:
                     (A)  is an airport passenger terminal building or
  a building used primarily for maintenance of aircraft or other
  aircraft services, for aircraft equipment storage, or for air
  cargo;
                     (B)  is an airport fueling system facility;
                     (C)  is in a foreign-trade zone:
                           (i)  that has been granted to a joint airport
  board under Chapter 129, Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 1977 (Article 1446.8, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes);
                           (ii)  the area of which in the portion of the
  zone located in the airport operated by the joint airport board does
  not exceed 2,500 acres; and
                           (iii)  that is established and operating
  pursuant to federal law; or
                     (D)(i) is in a foreign trade zone established
  pursuant to federal law after June 1, 1991, which operates pursuant
  to federal law;
                           (ii)  is contiguous to or has access via a
  taxiway to an airport located in two counties, one of which has a
  population of 500,000 or more according to the federal decennial
  census most recently preceding the establishment of the foreign
  trade zone; and
                           (iii)  is owned, directly or through a
  corporation organized under the Development Corporation Act of 1979
  (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), by the same
  incorporated city or town which owns the airport;
               (4)  the interest is in a part of:
                     (A)  a park, market, fairground, or similar public
  facility that is owned by an incorporated city or town; or
                     (B)  a convention center, visitor center, sports
  facility with permanent seating, concert hall, arena, or stadium
  that is owned by an incorporated city or town as such leasehold or
  possessory interest serves a governmental, municipal, or public
  purpose or function when the facility is open to the public,
  regardless of whether a fee is charged for admission;
               (5)  the interest involves only the right to use the
  property for grazing or other agricultural purposes; or
               (6)  [the property is owned by the Texas National
  Research Laboratory Commission or by a corporation formed by the
  Texas National Research Laboratory Commission under Section
  465.008(g), Government Code, and is used or is useful in connection
  with an eligible undertaking as defined by Section 465.021,
  Government Code; or
               [(7)] the property is:
                     (A)  owned by a municipality, a public port, or a
  navigation district created or operating under Section 59, Article
  XVI, Texas Constitution, or under a statute enacted under Section
  59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and
                     (B)  used as an aid or facility incidental to or
  useful in the operation or development of a port or waterway or in
  aid of navigation-related commerce.
         SECTION 8.  The following laws are repealed:
               (1)  Chapter 465, Government Code; and
               (2)  Sections 151.349 and 171.086, Tax Code.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 387 was passed by the House on April
  12, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 387 was passed by the Senate on May
  18, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor