Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 326 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Economic Development to appoint representatives of certain state agencies and offices to the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Initiative Unit. The bill requires the department, in cooperation with the initiative unit, to coordinate efforts of the agencies and offices to study trade relations with Mexico and other border states; to develop and adopt the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Coordinated Plan; and to submit a report on the plan and the results of its study to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, members of the legislature, and Legislative Budget Board. The plan must be updated within four years and must include short-term and long-term recommendations and initiatives relating to increasing trade and tourism between Mexico and the border states and addressing trade problems between Texas and Mexico. The bill requires each agency and office represented by the initiative unit to submit quarterly reports to the department relating to project status, funding, planning and research completed, community and technical assistance rendered, information collection, and agency efforts to promote economic development. The bill also requires the department to form a partnership with the agencies and offices to ensure that the Texas Business and Community Economic Development Clearinghouse has current knowledge of the plan and the unit's activities.