Wilson Research Security Council Bill Gives Texas A&M A Named Role

The text as introduced · 608 words

89R13975 CXP-D

By: Wilson
H.B. No. 4762

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing the Higher Education Research Security

Council.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.957 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.957. HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH SECURITY COUNCIL.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Council" means the Higher Education Research

Security Council established under this section.

(2) "Postsecondary educational institution" means an

institution of higher education or a private or independent

institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by

Section 61.003.

(3) "Tier one research institution" means a

postsecondary educational institution designated as R1: very high

spending and doctorate production in the 2025 Carnegie

Classification of Institutions of Higher Education published by the

Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research.

(b) The Higher Education Research Security Council is

established to promote secure academic research at tier one

research institutions while mitigating the risk of foreign

espionage and interference.

(c) The council is composed of each research security

officer designated under Section 51.956.

(d) A council member serves at the will of the person who

designated the member.

(e) A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same

manner as the original designation.

(f) The council member designated under Section 51.956 for

The Texas A&M University System shall serve as the initial

presiding officer of the council.

(g) The council shall:

(1) identify best practices for a tier one research

institution to conduct research securely while mitigating the

threat of foreign espionage and interference;

(2) develop a research security policy that a tier one

research institution may adopt to improve research security;

(3) establish an accreditation process under which the

council may award a tier one research institution an accreditation

for security excellence;

(4) promote attendance at the annual academic security

and counter exploitation program seminar offered by The Texas A&M

University System; and

(5) develop and offer an annual training program for

tier one research institution security officers that includes:

(A) background and academic history checks of

researchers; and

(B) research security and integrity tools and

software that may be used to prevent the loss of intellectual

capital.

(h) The council shall meet at least once each quarter.

(i) A meeting conducted under Subsection (h) may be in

person or by video conference call, as determined by the presiding

officer.

(j) The council shall prepare and submit to the attorney

general's office and to the presiding officer of each legislative

committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education an annual

report on the status of research security at tier one research

institutions and any associated recommendations.

(k) A report submitted under Subsection (j) is confidential

and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government

Code.

(l) The council may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and

donations for purposes of this section but may not solicit or accept

a gift, grant, or donation from China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or

any other country designated as a country of particular concern in

the United States secretary of state's most recent designations

under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.

Section 6401 et seq.).

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the

appropriate entities shall designate the members of the Higher

Education Research Security Council established under Section

51.957, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Higher Education

Research Security Council established under Section 51.957,

Education Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial

meeting.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.