By Truan S.B. No. 1421 74R8012 DRH-F 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 an agreement under this chapter with: 1-23 (1) the United Mexican States or a political 1-24 subdivision of the United Mexican States; 2-1 (2) an agency of the United States; or 2-2 (3) an agency or entity that is created under a treaty 2-3 between the United States and the United Mexican States. 2-4 Sec. 792.003. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT. A state agency or a 2-5 political subdivision may enter an agreement under this chapter 2-6 only if the agreement is for the accomplishment of a function that 2-7 the agency or political subdivision is authorized to perform under 2-8 other law. 2-9 Sec. 792.004. TERMS. Under an agreement authorized by this 2-10 chapter, a political subdivision or a state agency may: 2-11 (1) acquire or dispose of in any manner available to 2-12 the state agency or political subdivision under other law an 2-13 interest in real property in this state or the United Mexican 2-14 States; 2-15 (2) use any funds of the state agency or political 2-16 subdivision that are not otherwise dedicated by law for another 2-17 purpose to accomplish the purposes of the agreement; 2-18 (3) use any equipment, facilities, or other property 2-19 of the state agency or political subdivision to carry out the 2-20 agreement; or 2-21 (4) agree to any other terms that are not prohibited 2-22 under state or federal law. 2-23 Sec. 792.005. BONDS. A state agency or a political 2-24 subdivision may issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to 2-25 provide financing for an agreement under this chapter to the same 2-26 extent and in the same manner that the agency or political 2-27 subdivision is authorized to issue the bonds or other evidence of 3-1 indebtedness to perform the activity on its own behalf. 3-2 Sec. 792.006. APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE 3-3 BUDGET BOARD. An agreement made by a state agency under this 3-4 chapter is not valid unless it is approved by the governor and the 3-5 Legislative Budget Board. 3-6 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 3-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-12 passage, and it is so enacted.