1-1     By:  Oliveira, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio)         H.B. No. 565
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 9, 1999;
 1-3     April 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Special Committee
 1-4     on Border Affairs; April 29, 1999, reported favorably by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 29, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the use of state research and technology funds on
 1-9     environmental issues in the border region.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
1-12     amended by adding Section 61.0821 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 61.0821.  RESEARCH ON BORDER REGION ENVIRONMENTAL
1-14     ISSUES.  (a) In this section, "border region" means the  area
1-15     composed of the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster,
1-16     Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El
1-17     Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells,
1-18     Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, Live Oak, La Salle,
1-19     Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves,
1-20     San Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb,
1-21     Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.
1-22           (b)  The board shall encourage institutions of higher
1-23     education and other entities using state research or technology
1-24     funds to apply those funds to environmental issues in the border
1-25     region to the extent consistent with the authorized use of those
1-26     funds.
1-27           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-28     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-29     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-30     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-31     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-32     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-33     passage, and it is so enacted.
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