By: Cuellar, H. H.B. No. 42 73R1034 CBH-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the Rio Grande River Authority 1-3 Commission. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-6 (1) "Authority" means the Rio Grande River Authority. 1-7 (2) "Commission" means the Rio Grande River Authority 1-8 Commission. 1-9 SECTION 2. RIO GRANDE RIVER AUTHORITY COMMISSION. (a) The 1-10 Rio Grande River Authority Commission is established. The 1-11 commission is composed of the following persons appointed by the 1-12 governor: 1-13 (1) a representative of: 1-14 (A) the governor; 1-15 (B) The University of Texas System; 1-16 (C) The Texas A&M University System; 1-17 (D) the Texas Water Commission; 1-18 (E) the Texas Air Control Board; 1-19 (F) the Texas Department of Health; 1-20 (G) the Texas Department of Transportation; 1-21 (H) The University of Texas School of Public 1-22 Health; 1-23 (I) Baylor College of Medicine; 1-24 (J) the Texas Department of Commerce; 2-1 (K) Texas State Technical Institute; and 2-2 (L) the attorney general; 2-3 (2) a recognized bond counsel; 2-4 (3) a recognized financial advisor; 2-5 (4) representatives of appropriate federal agencies; 2-6 and 2-7 (5) representatives of states within the United 2-8 Mexican States that border this state. 2-9 (b) The governor shall name a member of the commission to 2-10 serve as the presiding officer. 2-11 (c) The commission meets at the call of the presiding 2-12 officer. 2-13 (d) The state agencies and institutions represented on the 2-14 commission shall pay the costs of the commission and shall provide 2-15 clerical and support services. 2-16 (e) The commission may seek and accept other sources of 2-17 funding and staff, including private and federal funding and 2-18 volunteers, grants from the International Development Cooperation 2-19 Agency, and loans from the World Bank. 2-20 SECTION 3. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission 2-21 shall develop plans for the implementation of a Rio Grande River 2-22 Authority that will address trade, health care quality, job 2-23 training, education, environmental protection, and economic 2-24 development in the region bordering the Rio Grande River. The 2-25 commission shall develop specific plans to meet the requirements of 2-26 the North American Free Trade Agreement, if ratified. 2-27 (b) The commission shall also develop objectives for the 3-1 authority and may formulate plans to address specific problems in 3-2 the region, including plans to: 3-3 (1) extend and enhance formal education in the region 3-4 from kindergarten through graduate school; 3-5 (2) address the implementation of comprehensive and 3-6 effective means to protect the water of the Rio Grande River, the 3-7 air in the region, and to limit the toxic and hazardous waste 3-8 risks; 3-9 (3) identify means to deliver standard inoculations 3-10 and public health services to all residents of the region; 3-11 (4) inventory the immediate and intermediate job 3-12 skills demanded by the region and to provide the necessary skills; 3-13 and 3-14 (5) meet the infrastructure and trade needs of the 3-15 region in preparation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, 3-16 if ratified. 3-17 (c) The commission shall develop a timetable for financial 3-18 self-sufficiency for the authority and the region and develop 3-19 access to the capital markets. 3-20 (d) After the authority is created, the commission serves as 3-21 an advisory committee to the authority. 3-22 (e) The commission may create divisions within the 3-23 commission to address specific problems. 3-24 SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than January 15 of each 3-25 odd-numbered year, the commission shall provide to the governor and 3-26 the legislature a report detailing the actions of the commission 3-27 during the preceding two-year period and suggesting any action the 4-1 commission believes is necessary to further the creation or 4-2 function of the authority. 4-3 SECTION 5. APPOINTMENT AND INITIAL REPORT. (a) As soon as 4-4 possible after the effective date of this Act, the governor shall 4-5 appoint the members of the Rio Grande River Authority Commission. 4-6 (b) The Rio Grande River Authority Commission shall submit 4-7 the first report required by Section 4 of this Act not later than 4-8 January 15, 1995. 4-9 SECTION 6. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 4-10 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 4-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 4-15 passage, and it is so enacted.