By Van de Putte 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" has the meaning assigned by Section 1-13 783.003. 1-14 Sec. 792.002. AGREEMENTS WITH MEXICO. A state agency or a 1-15 political subdivision may, to the extent permitted under federal 1-16 law, enter an agreement under this chapter with: 1-17 (1) the United Mexican States or a political 1-18 subdivision of the United Mexican States; 1-19 (2) an agency of the United States; or 1-20 (3) an agency or entity that is created under a treaty 1-21 between the United States and the United Mexican States. 1-22 Sec. 792.003. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT. A state agency or a 1-23 political subdivision may enter an agreement under this chapter 2-1 only if the agreement is for the accomplishment of a function that 2-2 the agency or political subdivision is authorized to perform under 2-3 other law. 2-4 Sec. 792.004. TERMS. Under an agreement authorized by this 2-5 chapter, a political subdivision or a state agency may: 2-6 (1) acquire or dispose of in any manner available to 2-7 the state agency or political subdivision under other law an 2-8 interest in real property in this state or the United Mexican 2-9 States; 2-10 (2) use any funds of the state agency or political 2-11 subdivision that are not otherwise dedicated by law for another 2-12 purpose to accomplish the purposes of the agreement; 2-13 (3) use any equipment, facilities, or other property 2-14 of the state agency or political subdivision to carry out the 2-15 agreement; or 2-16 (4) agree to any other terms that are not prohibited 2-17 under state or federal law. 2-18 Sec. 792.005. BONDS. A state agency or a political 2-19 subdivision may issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to 2-20 provide financing for an agreement under this chapter to the same 2-21 extent that the agency or political subdivision is authorized to 2-22 issue the bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to perform the 2-23 activity on its own behalf. 2-24 Sec. 792.006. APPROVAL OF TEXAS BOND REVIEW BOARD. An 2-25 agreement made by a state agency under this chapter is not valid 3-1 unless it is approved by the Texas Bond Review Board. 3-2 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 3-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-7 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-8 passage, and it is so enacted.