PROCUREMENT OF CERTAIN SPACE-RELATED VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 2155.083 or any other law and subject to Subsection (b), the board may authorize the commission to procure, lease, or otherwise secure access to capacity on or through a spacefaring vehicle, platform, or infrastructure, including a rocket, shuttle, spaceplane, satellite, space station, lunar or planetary base, and other orbital, suborbital, or extraterrestrial transport or habitation system, regardless of whether the vehicle, platform, or infrastructure is owned or operated by a governmental, commercial, or private entity.

(b) Before the commission takes a proposed action under Subsection (a), the board must:

(1) determine the proposed action:

(A) promotes or serves a legitimate and clearly defined public purpose;

(B) provides demonstrable value, taking into consideration:

(i) the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the proposed action;

(ii) alternative approaches to attaining the same or a similar public purpose as the proposed action; and

(iii) potential benefits of the proposed action; and

(C) is subject to appropriate controls and contractual requirements sufficient to protect the interests of the state;

(2) discuss the determinations the board must find under Subdivision (1) in an open meeting held in accordance with Chapter 551; and

(3) by a majority vote of the voting board members present and voting, authorize the action in an open meeting held in accordance with Chapter 551.