By: Truan, Rosson, Lucio S.B. No. 1421 Zaffirini A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the making of, and the issuance of bonds for, 1-2 international cooperation agreements by state agencies and 1-3 political subdivisions. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Chapter 792 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 792. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS 1-8 Sec. 792.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-9 (1) "Political subdivision" has the meaning assigned 1-10 by Section 791.003. 1-11 (2) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 1-12 783.003. 1-13 Sec. 792.002. AGREEMENTS WITH MEXICO. A state agency or a 1-14 political subdivision may, to the extent permitted under federal 1-15 law, enter into an agreement under this chapter with: 1-16 (1) the United Mexican States or a political 1-17 subdivision of the United Mexican States; 1-18 (2) an agency of the United States; or 1-19 (3) an agency or entity that is created under a treaty 1-20 or executive agreement between the United States and the United 1-21 Mexican States. 1-22 Sec. 792.003. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT. A state agency or a 1-23 political subdivision may enter into an agreement under this 1-24 chapter only if the agreement is for the accomplishment of a 2-1 function that the agency or political subdivision is authorized to 2-2 perform under other law. 2-3 Sec. 792.004. TERMS. (a) Under an agreement authorized by 2-4 this chapter, a political subdivision or a state agency may: 2-5 (1) acquire or dispose of in any manner available to 2-6 the state agency or political subdivision under other law an 2-7 interest in real property in this state or the United Mexican 2-8 States; 2-9 (2) use any funds of the state agency or political 2-10 subdivision that are not otherwise dedicated by law for another 2-11 purpose to accomplish the purposes of the agreement; 2-12 (3) use any equipment, facilities, or other property 2-13 of the state agency or political subdivision to carry out the 2-14 agreement; or 2-15 (4) agree to any other terms that are not prohibited 2-16 under state or federal law. 2-17 (b) An agreement made under this chapter may not provide for 2-18 the liability of this state or a political subdivision on a bond or 2-19 other obligation issued by the United Mexican States or a political 2-20 subdivision of the United Mexican States. 2-21 Sec. 792.005. BONDS. (a) A state agency described by 2-22 Subsection (b) or a political subdivision may issue bonds or other 2-23 evidence of indebtedness to provide financing for an agreement 2-24 under this chapter to the same extent and in the same manner that 2-25 the agency or political subdivision is authorized to issue the 2-26 bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to perform the activity on 2-27 its own behalf. 3-1 (b) Only the following state agencies may issue bonds under 3-2 this section: 3-3 (1) the Department of Agriculture; 3-4 (2) the Texas Department of Commerce; 3-5 (3) the Texas Department of Housing and Community 3-6 Affairs; 3-7 (4) the Texas Public Finance Authority; 3-8 (5) the Texas Turnpike Authority; or 3-9 (6) the Texas Water Development Board. 3-10 Sec. 792.006. APPROVAL OF GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE BUDGET 3-11 BOARD. An agreement made by a state agency under this chapter that 3-12 involves the use of money appropriated from the state treasury is 3-13 not valid unless it is approved by the governor and the Legislative 3-14 Budget Board. 3-15 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 3-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-20 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-21 passage, and it is so enacted.