By Wise H.B. No. 443
75R2784 DWS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the Bureau for Economic Development and
1-3 Hispanic Studies.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Chapter 486 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 486. BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
1-8 HISPANIC STUDIES
1-9 Sec. 486.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "bureau" means
1-10 the Bureau for Economic Development and Hispanic Studies.
1-11 Sec. 486.002. BUREAU; MEMBERS. (a) The Bureau for Economic
1-12 Development and Hispanic Studies is an agency of the state.
1-13 (b) The bureau is composed of 18 members appointed by the
1-14 governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
1-15 (c) In making the appointments, the governor shall appoint
1-16 six of the members from a list of nominees submitted by the Mexican
1-17 American Legislative Caucus of the house of representatives and
1-18 shall appoint six of the members from a list of nominees submitted
1-19 by the Hispanic Caucus of the senate. If necessary to make the
1-20 appointments under this subsection, the governor may request and a
1-21 caucus shall give to the governor additional lists of nominees.
1-22 (d) A member of the bureau must be a resident of this state
1-23 who has demonstrated an interest in preserving the cultural
1-24 heritage of the Hispanic citizens of this state and in advancing
2-1 educational and economic opportunities and political rights for
2-2 Hispanic citizens and must be fluent in English and Spanish.
2-3 Sec. 486.003. TERMS. Members serve for staggered terms of
2-4 six years, with the terms of one-third of the members expiring
2-5 February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
2-6 Sec. 486.004. MEETINGS; OFFICERS; OFFICE. (a) The bureau
2-7 shall hold at least one regular meeting in each calendar quarter of
2-8 each year.
2-9 (b) At its first meeting in each odd-numbered year, the
2-10 bureau shall select from its membership a presiding officer and an
2-11 assistant presiding officer.
2-12 (c) The bureau shall maintain its main office at Weslaco.
2-13 Sec. 486.005. EXPENSES. A member of the bureau is entitled
2-14 to reimbursement for expenses incurred for service on the bureau,
2-15 as provided by the General Appropriations Act. A member may not
2-16 receive any compensation for that service.
2-17 Sec. 486.006. SUNSET PROVISION. The bureau is subject to
2-18 Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as
2-19 provided by that chapter, the bureau is abolished and this chapter
2-20 expires September 1, 2009.
2-21 Sec. 486.007. PERSONNEL. (a) The bureau shall employ an
2-22 executive director.
2-23 (b) The executive director may employ personnel necessary to
2-24 implement this chapter.
2-25 Sec. 486.008. DUTIES. The bureau shall:
2-26 (1) develop proposals for maximizing trade between
2-27 this state and the United Mexican States;
3-1 (2) undertake research to encourage the analysis of
3-2 public policies affecting Hispanic citizens;
3-3 (3) conduct studies and develop policy proposals on
3-4 issues of particular interest and importance to Hispanic citizens,
3-5 including studies and policies relating to:
3-6 (A) educational issues;
3-7 (B) employment opportunities, including means by
3-8 which opportunities created by foreign trade agreements and federal
3-9 funds may be used to prevent loss of jobs by Hispanic citizens;
3-10 (C) access to social services;
3-11 (D) family issues, including issues regarding
3-12 child abuse and family violence;
3-13 (E) political rights and access, including
3-14 voting rights and rights relating to the use of languages;
3-15 (F) immigration rights;
3-16 (G) administrative law and regulatory issues;
3-17 (H) customs law and other law governing
3-18 international trade;
3-19 (I) relevant cultural differences, including the
3-20 effects of use of different languages;
3-21 (J) affirmative action programs;
3-22 (K) alcohol and drug abuse in the area of the
3-23 border with the United Mexican States; and
3-24 (L) other pertinent issues;
3-25 (4) serve as a clearinghouse of information for other
3-26 agencies and organizations concerned with issues of importance to
3-27 Hispanic citizens; and
4-1 (5) distribute the results of its studies and policy
4-2 proposals to appropriate federal, state, and local governmental
4-3 agencies and officials, community organizations, private leaders,
4-4 and the public.
4-5 Sec. 486.009. ASSISTANCE. The Texas Department of Commerce
4-6 and state institutions of higher education shall assist the bureau
4-7 in carrying out its duties.
4-8 Sec. 486.010. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The bureau may accept gifts
4-9 and grants from any source to be used to carry out the bureau's
4-10 duties.
4-11 SECTION 2. In making the initial appointments to the Bureau
4-12 for Economic Development and Hispanic Studies, the governor shall
4-13 designate six members for terms expiring February 1, 1999, six
4-14 members for terms expiring February 1, 2001, and six members for
4-15 terms expiring February 1, 2003.
4-16 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
4-17 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
4-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.