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.