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  83R2794 RWG-D
 
  By: J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2531
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of money in the spaceport trust fund for
  educational programs related to the aerospace industry.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 481.0069, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to
  read as follows:
         (d)  Money in the spaceport trust fund may not be spent
  unless the office certifies to the comptroller:
               (1)  that:
                     (A) [(1)]  a viable business entity has been
  established that:
                           (i) [(A)]  has a business plan that
  demonstrates that the entity has available the financial,
  managerial, and technical expertise and capability necessary to
  launch and land a reusable launch vehicle; and
                           (ii) [(B)]  has committed to locating its
  facilities at a spaceport in this state;
                     (B) [(2)]  a development corporation for
  spaceport facilities created under Chapter 507, Local Government
  Code, has established a development plan for the spaceport project
  and has secured at least 90 percent of the funding required for the
  project; and
                     (C) [(3)]  the spaceport or launch operator has
  obtained the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration license;
  or
               (2)  that the money will be used to pay for educational
  programs described by Subsection (e)(2).
         (e)  Money in the spaceport trust fund may be used only:
               (1)  to pay expenditures for the development of
  infrastructure necessary or useful for establishing a spaceport; or
               (2)  to pay for educational programs related to the
  aerospace industry, including:
                     (A)  science, technology, engineering, and
  mathematics courses designed to introduce middle school and high
  school students to the aerospace industry; and
                     (B)  science and technology competitions,
  including science fairs and robotics competitions.
         (e-1)  The office may contract with a development
  corporation for spaceport facilities for the infrastructure
  development.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.