BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center                                  S.B. 1599
                                                        By: Truan
                                   Int'l Relations, Trade & Tech.
                                                          3-30-95
                                     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

As proposed, 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 grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency.

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