By Cuellar H.B. No. 2223
75R7615 CBH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the Rio Grande River Authority
1-3 Commission.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
1-6 (1) "Authority" means the Rio Grande River Authority.
1-7 (2) "Commission" means the Rio Grande River Authority
1-8 Commission.
1-9 SECTION 2. RIO GRANDE RIVER AUTHORITY COMMISSION. (a) The
1-10 Rio Grande River Authority Commission is established. The
1-11 commission is composed of the following persons appointed by the
1-12 governor:
1-13 (1) a representative of:
1-14 (A) the governor;
1-15 (B) a public institution of higher education
1-16 located in a county that borders the United Mexican States;
1-17 (C) the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
1-18 Commission;
1-19 (D) the Texas Department of Health;
1-20 (E) the Texas Department of Transportation;
1-21 (F) the Department of Public Safety;
1-22 (G) Baylor College of Medicine;
1-23 (H) the Texas Department of Commerce; and
1-24 (I) the attorney general;
2-1 (2) a recognized bond counsel;
2-2 (3) a recognized financial advisor;
2-3 (4) representatives of appropriate federal agencies;
2-4 and
2-5 (5) representatives of states within the United
2-6 Mexican States that border this state.
2-7 (b) The governor shall name a member of the commission to
2-8 serve as the presiding officer.
2-9 (c) The commission meets at the call of the presiding
2-10 officer.
2-11 (d) The state agencies and institutions represented on the
2-12 commission shall pay the costs of the commission and shall provide
2-13 clerical and support services.
2-14 (e) The commission may seek and accept other sources of
2-15 funding and staff, including private and federal funding and
2-16 volunteers, grants from the International Development Cooperation
2-17 Agency, and loans from the World Bank.
2-18 SECTION 3. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission
2-19 shall develop plans for the implementation of a Rio Grande River
2-20 Authority that will address trade, health care quality, job
2-21 training, education, environmental protection, and economic
2-22 development in the region bordering the Rio Grande River. The
2-23 commission shall develop specific plans to meet the requirements of
2-24 the North American Free Trade Agreement.
2-25 (b) The commission shall also develop objectives for the
2-26 authority and may formulate plans to address specific problems in
2-27 the region, including plans to:
3-1 (1) extend and enhance formal education in the region
3-2 from kindergarten through graduate school;
3-3 (2) address the implementation of comprehensive and
3-4 effective means to protect the water of the Rio Grande River, the
3-5 air in the region, and to limit the toxic and hazardous waste
3-6 risks;
3-7 (3) identify means to deliver standard inoculations
3-8 and public health services to all residents of the region;
3-9 (4) inventory the immediate and intermediate job
3-10 skills demanded by the region and to provide the necessary skills;
3-11 and
3-12 (5) meet the infrastructure and trade needs of the
3-13 region relating to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
3-14 (c) The commission shall develop a timetable for financial
3-15 self-sufficiency for the authority and the region and develop
3-16 access to the capital markets.
3-17 (d) After the authority is created, the commission serves as
3-18 an advisory committee to the authority.
3-19 (e) The commission may create divisions within the
3-20 commission to address specific problems.
3-21 SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than January 15 of each
3-22 odd-numbered year, the commission shall provide to the governor and
3-23 the legislature a report detailing the actions of the commission
3-24 during the preceding two-year period and suggesting any action the
3-25 commission believes is necessary to further the creation or
3-26 function of the authority.
3-27 SECTION 5. APPOINTMENT AND INITIAL REPORT. (a) As soon as
4-1 possible after the effective date of this Act, the governor shall
4-2 appoint the members of the Rio Grande River Authority Commission.
4-3 (b) The Rio Grande River Authority Commission shall submit
4-4 the first report required by Section 4 of this Act not later than
4-5 January 15, 1999.
4-6 SECTION 6. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
4-7 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-12 passage, and it is so enacted.