By: Thompson of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 15         (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst, Alvarado, Gutierrez)          (In the Senate - Received from the House April 28, 2021;   May 10, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &   Human Services; May 22, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0;   May 22, 2021, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 15 By:  Blanco     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the creation of the Texas brain university research   initiative.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter OO to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER OO. TEXAS BRAIN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE          Sec. 61.9971.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Advisory board" means the Texas brain university   research initiative advisory board.                (2)  "Distinguished researcher" means a researcher who   is an expert in:                      (A)  the causes of and prevention, treatment,   rehabilitation, and cures for brain-related diseases, syndromes,   disorders, dysfunction, injuries, developmental issues,   neurological health issues, mental and behavioral health issues,   and substance abuse disorders and other addictions; or                      (B)  any other area impacting the brain, including   an area that directly or indirectly impacts or is impacted by the   brain or brain health, such as the gut microbiome, nutrition, and   the spinal cord or nervous system.                (3)  "Eligible institution" means a general academic   teaching institution or health-related institution.                (4)  "Fund" means the Texas brain university research   initiative fund established under this subchapter.                (5)  "Health-related institution" means a medical and   dental unit and any other public health science center, public   medical school, or public dental school established by statute or   in accordance with this chapter.          Sec. 61.9972.  ADMINISTRATION OF INITIATIVE. (a) The Texas   brain university research initiative is administered by the board.          (b)  From the Texas brain university research initiative   fund, the board shall award matching grants to assist eligible   institutions in recruiting distinguished researchers.          (c)  The board may adopt any rules the board considers   necessary to administer this subchapter.          Sec. 61.9973.  MATCHING GRANTS. (a) An eligible   institution may apply to the board for a matching grant from the   fund. Before approval or disapproval of a grant application, the   board shall consider the recommendation of the advisory board   regarding the grant proposal. If the board approves a grant   application, the board shall award to the applicant institution a   grant amount equal to the amount committed by the institution for   the recruitment of a distinguished researcher, except as provided   by Subsection (c)(2).          (b)  A grant application must identify the source and amount   of the eligible institution's matching funds and must demonstrate   that the proposed use of the grant has the support of the   institution's president and of the institution's governing board,   the chair of the institution's governing board, or the chancellor   of the university system, if the institution is a component of a   university system. An applicant eligible institution may commit   for matching purposes any funds of the institution available for   that purpose other than appropriated general revenue.          (c)  The board may set a deadline for grant applications for   each state fiscal year. After fully funding approved grant   applications received during an application period for a state   fiscal year, the board may reopen applications for that year and:                (1)  award the full amount of matching funds from the   fund for new applications; or                (2)  approve previously disapproved applications   submitted before the original application deadline for receipt of a   reduced grant amount.          (d)  A matching grant received by an eligible institution   under this subchapter may not be considered as a basis to reduce,   directly or indirectly, the amount of money otherwise appropriated   to the institution.          (e)  A matching grant may not be used by an eligible   institution to recruit a distinguished researcher or other employee   from:                (1)  another eligible institution; or                (2)  a private or independent institution of higher   education.          (f)  The board shall require an application and all   supporting documentation to be submitted to the board   electronically in the manner prescribed by the board.          Sec. 61.9974.  GRANT AWARD CRITERIA; PRIORITIES. (a) In   awarding grants, the board shall give priority to proposals that:                (1)  involve the recruitment of distinguished   researchers, including researchers who study mental and behavioral   health issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic; or                (2)  demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of   contributing substantially to this state's national and global   economic competitiveness.          (b)  A grant proposal should identify a specific   distinguished researcher being recruited.          Sec. 61.9975.  TEXAS BRAIN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE   FUND. (a) The Texas brain university research initiative fund is a   dedicated account in the general revenue fund.          (b)  The fund consists of:                (1)  amounts appropriated or otherwise allocated or   transferred by law to the fund; and                (2)  gifts, grants, and other donations received for   the fund.          (c)  The fund may be used by the board only for the purposes   of this subchapter, including for necessary expenses incurred in   the administration of the fund and this subchapter.          Sec. 61.9976.  CONFIDENTIALITY. Information collected or   obtained by the board or the advisory board concerning the identity   of a particular distinguished researcher who is the subject of a   grant proposal under this subchapter is confidential unless the   researcher and the applicant eligible institution consent to   disclosure of the information. The information remains   confidential until the date, if any, on which the researcher enters   into an employment relationship with the recruiting institution as   contemplated in the grant proposal.          Sec. 61.9977.  ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The Texas brain   university research initiative advisory board is established to   assist the board with the review and evaluation of applications for   funding of grant proposals under this subchapter. The advisory   board shall make recommendations to the board for approval or   disapproval of those applications.          (b)  The advisory board must be composed of at least nine   members appointed by the governor. Of the members of the board:                (1)  one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,   must have a background in finance;                (2)  one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,   must have an academic background in science, medicine, or brain   health; and                (3)  one-third of the members, as nearly as possible,   must be public members.          (c)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   size, composition, or duration of the advisory board.          (d)  A member of the advisory board who is or has been   employed by, is or has been a party to a contract for any purpose   with, or is a student or former student of an applicant eligible   institution may not be involved in the review, evaluation, or   recommendation of a grant proposal made by that institution.          (e)  An advisory board member is not required to be a   resident of this state.          (f)  Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without   regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or   national origin of the appointees.          (g)  Members of the advisory board serve without   compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and   necessary expenses in attending meetings of the advisory board or   performing other official duties authorized by the board.          SECTION 2.  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, 2021.     * * * * *