Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 495 amends the Government Code to revise the duties of the Office of Defense Affairs in the Texas Department of Economic Development, as well as those of the office's advisory panel, the Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission. The act expands the focus of the office from assisting defense-dependent communities to also informing the legislature, the Texas congressional delegation, and state agencies of federal actions affecting military matters. New clearinghouse duties include providing information on the strategic value and operating costs of Texas federal military installations and the loss of jobs in defense-related businesses and defense-dependent communities. The act directs the office to assist such communities to retain and recruit defense-related businesses and to strengthen relationships with those businesses and with military installations. Additional provisions relate to reports, consulting agreements, state agency cooperation, and meetings with state officials.