By Yarbrough, et al. H.B. No. 244 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to ensuring that the state and its local governments and 1-3 citizens receive all available federal assistance in connection 1-4 with the reduction, closure, or conversion of federal military 1-5 bases in this state. 1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-7 SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-8 Chapter 743 to read as follows: 1-9 CHAPTER 743. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY BASE 1-10 REDUCTION, CLOSURE, OR CONVERSION 1-11 Sec. 743.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-12 (1) "Federal assistance" includes: 1-13 (A) grants, loans, and other financial 1-14 assistance; and 1-15 (B) assistance other than financial assistance. 1-16 (2) "Local government" includes a political 1-17 subdivision or special district of this state. 1-18 (3) "Military base" includes a facility owned by a 1-19 branch of the United States military and leased to a private 1-20 contractor for the production of goods for the military. 1-21 Sec. 743.002. COORDINATION BY GOVERNOR. (a) The governor 1-22 shall initiate and coordinate the efforts of state government to 1-23 obtain the maximum amount of available federal assistance for the 1-24 state and its local governments and citizens in connection with the 2-1 reduction, closure, or conversion of federal military bases in this 2-2 state. Other state agencies shall assist the governor to initiate 2-3 efforts by bringing relevant information to the governor's 2-4 attention. 2-5 (b) The governor may initiate and shall coordinate the 2-6 efforts of a local government or a combination of local governments 2-7 to obtain the maximum amount of available federal assistance in 2-8 connection with the reduction, closure, or conversion of federal 2-9 military bases in this state. 2-10 (c) A state agency, local government, or combination of 2-11 local governments shall cooperate with the governor's efforts under 2-12 this chapter. 2-13 Sec. 743.003. GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF STATE AGENCY 2-14 OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. (a) The governor may act on behalf of a 2-15 state agency, local government, or combination of local governments 2-16 to obtain the maximum amount of available federal assistance in 2-17 connection with the reduction, closure, or conversion of federal 2-18 military bases in this state. 2-19 (b) The governor may not, without the consent by order or 2-20 resolution of the governing body of an affected local government, 2-21 make an agreement or assurance on behalf of the local government. 2-22 Sec. 743.004. ACTION IF ASSISTANCE WITHHELD OR DEFERRED. 2-23 The governor shall take any action that the governor considers 2-24 necessary or appropriate to meet the needs of a state agency or 2-25 local government in connection with the reduction, closure, or 2-26 conversion of federal military bases in this state if: 2-27 (1) any federal assistance is withheld from the state 3-1 agency or local government; 3-2 (2) a contract that a state agency or local government 3-3 would otherwise receive under a federal assistance program is 3-4 withheld from the state agency or local government; or 3-5 (3) a payment or other form of assistance is deferred 3-6 because of an action by a federal government agency relating to the 3-7 federal assistance program. 3-8 Sec. 743.005. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The governor and the 3-9 lieutenant governor shall each appoint three members to an advisory 3-10 committee established to assist the governor in administering this 3-11 chapter. The governor shall designate one of the members as the 3-12 presiding officer of the committee. A member of the committee 3-13 serves at the will of the appointing authority. 3-14 (b) The advisory committee shall meet: 3-15 (1) at least annually; 3-16 (2) at least quarterly during the two-year period 3-17 following the date of the announcement that a federal military base 3-18 in this state will be reduced, closed, or converted; and 3-19 (3) more often, if necessary, at the call of the 3-20 presiding officer. 3-21 (c) The advisory committee shall advise the governor on 3-22 actions under this chapter. The governor shall inform the 3-23 committee of proposed rules and, if time permits, proposed actions 3-24 under this chapter for the committee's review and comment. 3-25 Sec. 743.006. RULES. The governor may adopt rules for the 3-26 administration of this chapter. 3-27 Sec. 743.007. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION. The governor, 4-1 state agencies, and local governments shall act under this chapter 4-2 to obtain the maximum amount of available federal assistance for 4-3 environmental remediation necessary in connection with the closure 4-4 or conversion of a federal military base. 4-5 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 4-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 4-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 4-11 passage, and it is so enacted.