1-1     By:  Truan                                            S.B. No. 1041

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 7, 1997; March 11, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on International Relations,

 1-4     Trade, and Technology; May 1, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 1, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-7                                   AN ACT

 1-8     relating to the creation, powers, and duties of the International

 1-9     Trade Task Force and the promotion and development of international

1-10     trade.

1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-12           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 481, Government Code, is

1-13     amended by adding Sections 481.062 and 481.063 to read as follows:

1-14           Sec. 481.062.  INTERNATIONAL TRADE TASK FORCE.  (a)  The

1-15     International Trade Task Force is created in the department to

1-16     advise and assist the department in promoting and developing

1-17     international trade.

1-18           (b)  The task force is composed of:

1-19                 (1)  a representative of the governor's office,

1-20     appointed by the governor;

1-21                 (2)  a representative of the secretary of state's

1-22     office, appointed by the secretary of state;

1-23                 (3)  a representative of the Texas Education Agency,

1-24     appointed by the commissioner of education;

1-25                 (4)  a representative of the Texas Higher Education

1-26     Coordinating Board, appointed by the commissioner of education;

1-27                 (5)  the executive director of the department;

1-28                 (6)  a state representative, appointed by the speaker

1-29     of the house of representatives;

1-30                 (7)  a state senator, appointed by the lieutenant

1-31     governor;

1-32                 (8)  four representatives of a community development

1-33     board, appointed by the department;

1-34                 (9)  three members who are chairpersons of a district

1-35     export council, appointed by the department;

1-36                 (10)  four members who are directors of an

1-37     International Trade Center - Small Business Development Center

1-38     regional office in the state, appointed by the department; and 

1-39                 (11)  nine representatives of the public with

1-40     significant international experience, five of whom are appointed by

1-41     the governor, two of whom are appointed by the speaker of the house

1-42     of representatives, and two of whom are appointed by the lieutenant

1-43     governor.

1-44           (c)  The membership of the task force must reflect the ethnic

1-45     and geographical diversity of this state.  In making the

1-46     appointments under Subsections (a)(8) and (10), the department

1-47     shall appoint members who come from different geographic regions of

1-48     this state.

1-49           (d)  International experience for purposes of making an

1-50     appointment under Subsection (a)(11) includes international

1-51     experience in trade, direct investment, finance, transportation,

1-52     services, or intellectual property.

1-53           (e)  The executive director of the department shall serve as

1-54     the presiding officer.

1-55           (f)  The task force shall meet monthly at the call of the

1-56     presiding officer or more frequently if the members of the task

1-57     force consider it necessary.

1-58           (g)  Article 6252-33, Revised Statutes, other than Section

1-59     2(a) of that article, applies to the task force.

1-60           Sec. 481.063.  STRATEGIC PLAN FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE.

1-61     (a)  In addition to the duties prescribed by Section 481.062, the

1-62     task force shall develop a strategic plan to promote and develop

1-63     international trade.  The plan must include state goals for export

1-64     of goods and services, the attraction of foreign investment, and

 2-1     increased foreign representation.

 2-2           (b)  In developing the plan, the task force shall:

 2-3                 (1)  address funding for international trade, foreign

 2-4     representation, infrastructure, business services relating to

 2-5     international trade, and the operations and administration of the

 2-6     department;

 2-7                 (2)  develop informational, educational, referral,

 2-8     training, and related support services for businesses in this state

 2-9     that want to engage in international trade activities;

2-10                 (3)  identify strategies to promote the trade

2-11     development of this state; and

2-12                 (4)  develop informational and technical assistance on

2-13     export opportunities and techniques for use by businesses domiciled

2-14     in this state.

2-15           (c)  Not later than September 1, 1998, the task force shall

2-16     complete the plan required by Subsection (a) and submit the plan to

2-17     the department.

2-18           (d)  Not later than February 1, 1999, the department shall

2-19     adopt a strategic plan to promote and develop international trade

2-20     in this state.  In adopting the plan, the department shall consider

2-21     the plan submitted by the task force under Subsection (c).

2-22           (e)  This section expires December 1, 2000.

2-23           SECTION 2.  If the duties of the Texas Department of Commerce

2-24     relating to the promotion and development of international trade in

2-25     this state are transferred to another state agency or other entity,

2-26     each reference in Sections 481.062 and 481.063, Government Code, as

2-27     added by this Act, to the Texas Department of Commerce is a

2-28     reference to the state agency or other entity to which the duties

2-29     are transferred.

2-30           SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2000, the Texas

2-31     Department of Commerce shall submit to the legislature a written

2-32     report on the effectiveness of the plan adopted by the department

2-33     as required by Subsection (d), Section 481.063, Government Code, as

2-34     added by this Act.

2-35           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-36           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-37     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-38     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-39     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-40     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

2-41                                  * * * * *