BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1599
By: Truan (Oliveira)
May 20, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Emerging industry and growing urban areas in the border region of
Texas and Mexico have contributed to the degradation of that area's
environment.  One way to ameliorate the effects of pollution on
human health is to educate school children and community residents
on environmental degradation and the potential for schools and
communities to effect change.

The Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee (TEEAC),
created in 1991, is not a federally mandated advisory committee and
may cease to exist at the end of the legislative session.  Only two
of 85 TEEAC representatives help develop teachers' staff in the
valley area.  Even if TEEAC's programs remain in place, the border
area will continue to lack environmental education programs.

PURPOSE

S.B. 1599 creates the Texas-Mexico Border Environmental Education
Council and establishes its duties.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 11, Education Code, by adding Subchapter
I, as follows:

                SUBCHAPTER I.  TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER
                 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COUNCIL

Sec. 11.971.  DEFINITION.  Defines "council."

Sec. 11.972.  TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COUNCIL. 
(a)  Creates the Texas-Mexico Border Environmental Education
Council (council).

       (b)  Sets forth the membership of the council.
       
       (c)  Provides that the at-large member serves as the
       presiding officer of the council.
       
       (d)  Requires the Region 1 and Region 19 education service
       centers to coordinate the council.
       
Sec. 11.973.  COMPENSATION.  Provides that service on the council
by a state officer or employee is an additional duty of a council
member's office or employment.  Provides that a council member is
not entitled to compensation as a council member but is entitled to
reimbursement of the member's travel expenses under provisions in
the General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 11.974.  POWERS AND DUTIES.  (a)  Sets forth the required
duties of the council.

       (b)  Authorizes the council to create environmental
       education programs through optional formal curriculum
       courses in public schools and institutions of higher
       education.
       
       (c)  Requires the council to coordinate its activities with
       any appropriate advisory committee established by the agency
       under Subchapter H and with the office of Texas-Mexico
       Health and Environmental Issues established under Chapter
       12F, Health and Safety Code.
       
Sec. 11.975.  PARTICIPATION BY AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.  (a)  Sets forth the list of entities which are required
to coordinate with the council in order to implement this
subchapter.

       (b)  Defines "institution of higher education."
       
Sec. 11.976.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  (a)  Authorizes the council to
accept gifts and grants made to the council for the purposes of
this subchapter.

       (b)  Requires money received under this section to be
       credited to a separate account in the general revenue fund
       and may be used only for the purposes of this subchapter. 
       Provides that Sections 403.094 and 403.095, Government Code,
       do not apply to the account created under this subsection.
       
Sec. 11.977.  STAFF.  Authorizes the agency to make available to
the council any agency staff or supplies that the agency considers
necessary to assist the council in the performance of its duties
under this subchapter.

Sec. 11.978.   APPROPRIATIONS.  No general revenues may be used
               for the purposes purposes of this subchapter for
               the biennium ending August 31, 1997.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage.  Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

The House Committee on State Affairs met in public hearing on May
9, 1995 to consider SB 1599. The chair laid out the bill. The chair
left the bill as pending business. The House Committee on State
Affairs met in a formal meeting on May 19, 1995 to consider SB
1599.  The chair laid out the bill. The bill was reported favorably
without amendment with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed by a revord vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.