HBA-MPA H.B. 1259 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1259
By: Wise
Economic Development
3/4/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

While there are a number of key groups and organizations, both statewide
and nationally that do excellent work on behalf of Hispanics and related
border economic and other issues, there is no central agency, commission,
or state office that acts as a clearinghouse of information, research,
training, and resources on Hispanic and border issues specifically.  One
means of addressing the situation is the creation of a regional training
and economic development center can be the focal point to provide research
on environmental and economic development needs as well as employment
skills and job training for local residents in the areas of public service,
education, manufacturing, health care, transportation, warehousing, and
construction.  

H.B. 1259 creates the Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Training, Research
and Economic Development Center to maximize trade between Texas and Mexico
while undertaking research and training and the analysis of public policy
addressing the economic needs of the border region.  The center will
utilize existing Texas A&M University facilities, and in cooperation with
other entities carry out agreements to further these goals, seek funding
from public and private sources, and make recommendations of how the future
of the border region can be enhanced. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 88, Education Code, by adding Subchapter D, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER D.  LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGIONAL TRAINING,
RESEARCH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Sec. 88.301.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "center" and "service area."

Sec. 88.302.  CREATION OF CENTER.  Establishes the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Regional Training, Research, and Economic Development Center (center) as a
component of the Texas A&M University System (system).  Requires that the
center be located in the service area at a facility owned or operated by
the system.  Provides that the operating budget, staffing, and activities
of the center are subject to approval of the board of regents of the system
(board). Authorizes the board to assign responsibility for management of
the center to any component institution of the system. 

Sec. 88.303.  PURPOSE.  Requires the center to develop a comprehensive
approach to addressing the economic needs of the service area, to deliver
human resource development for the service area's economic assets, to
assist governmental entities in economic development collaborations, to
establish forums to address related community issues, to serve as a
training and research center for community development initiatives, to
create collaborative resources for trade development; and to create
integrated and environmental research services to enhance development
initiatives. 

 Sec. 88.304.  COOPERATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. Authorizes the center to
execute and carry out affiliation or coordination agreements with other
entities or institutions to establish or operate the center. 

Sec. 88.305.  FUNDING.  Authorizes the center to receive state appropriated
funds as considered appropriate by the legislature. 

Sec. 88.306.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  Authorizes the board to solicit, accept,
and administer gifts and grants from any public or private source for the
use and benefit of the center. 

Sec. 88.307.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a) Requires the board to appoint an
advisory committee.  Requires the advisory committee to make program
priority recommendations to the board and serve as a resource group for the
center. 

(b) Provides that the advisory committee consists of a representative of
the system, the person responsible for the day-to-day operation of the
center, and 12 members of the general public composed of three members from
each county in the service area. 

(c) Requires the board, on the recommendation of the person responsible for
operation of the center, to appoint public members of the advisory
committee who have demonstrated an interest in the economic development of
the service area. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the board to establish the center no later  than
September 1, 2000. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.