74R8221 DRH-F
By Van de Putte, Hunter of Taylor, Oliveira H.B. No. 1355
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1355:
By Hunter of Taylor C.S.H.B. No. 1355
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the making of, and the issuance of bonds for,
1-3 international cooperation agreements by state agencies and
1-4 political subdivisions.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Chapter 792 to read as follows:
1-8 CHAPTER 792. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
1-9 Sec. 792.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-10 (1) "Political subdivision" has the meaning assigned
1-11 by Section 791.003.
1-12 (2) "State agency" means only the following:
1-13 (A) the Department of Agriculture;
1-14 (B) the Texas Department of Commerce;
1-15 (C) the Texas Department of Housing and
1-16 Community Affairs;
1-17 (D) the Texas Public Finance Authority;
1-18 (E) the Texas Turnpike Authority; or
1-19 (F) the Texas Water Development Board.
1-20 Sec. 792.002. AGREEMENTS WITH MEXICO. A state agency or a
1-21 political subdivision may, to the extent permitted under federal
1-22 law, enter into an agreement under this chapter with:
1-23 (1) the United Mexican States or a political
2-1 subdivision of the United Mexican States;
2-2 (2) an agency of the United States; or
2-3 (3) an agency or entity that is created under a treaty
2-4 between the United States and the United Mexican States.
2-5 Sec. 792.003. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT. A state agency or a
2-6 political subdivision may enter into an agreement under this
2-7 chapter only if the agreement is for the accomplishment of a
2-8 function that the agency or political subdivision is authorized to
2-9 perform under other law.
2-10 Sec. 792.004. TERMS. (a) Under an agreement authorized by
2-11 this chapter, a political subdivision or a state agency may:
2-12 (1) acquire or dispose of in any manner available to
2-13 the state agency or political subdivision under other law an
2-14 interest in real property in this state or the United Mexican
2-15 States;
2-16 (2) use any funds of the state agency or political
2-17 subdivision that are not otherwise dedicated by law for another
2-18 purpose to accomplish the purposes of the agreement;
2-19 (3) use any equipment, facilities, or other property
2-20 of the state agency or political subdivision to carry out the
2-21 agreement; or
2-22 (4) agree to any other terms that are not prohibited
2-23 under state or federal law.
2-24 (b) An agreement made under this chapter may not provide for
2-25 the liability of this state or a political subdivision on a bond or
3-1 other obligation issued by the United Mexican States or a political
3-2 subdivision of the United Mexican States.
3-3 Sec. 792.005. BONDS. A state agency or a political
3-4 subdivision may issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to
3-5 provide financing for an agreement under this chapter to the same
3-6 extent and in the same manner that the agency or political
3-7 subdivision is authorized to issue the bonds or other evidence of
3-8 indebtedness to perform the activity on its own behalf.
3-9 Sec. 792.006. APPROVAL OF GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE BUDGET
3-10 BOARD. An agreement made by a state agency under this chapter that
3-11 involves the use of money appropriated from the state treasury is
3-12 not valid unless it is approved by the governor and the Legislative
3-13 Budget Board.
3-14 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
3-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-19 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-20 passage, and it is so enacted.