By Wise H.B. No. 1259
76R5818 CAG-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation and operation of the Lower Rio Grande
1-3 Valley Regional Training, Research, and Economic Development
1-4 Center.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Subchapter D to read as follows:
1-8 SUBCHAPTER D. LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGIONAL TRAINING,
1-9 RESEARCH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER
1-10 Sec. 88.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-11 (1) "Center" means the Lower Rio Grande Valley
1-12 Regional Training, Research, and Economic Development Center.
1-13 (2) "Service area" means the area composed of Cameron,
1-14 Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties.
1-15 Sec. 88.302. CREATION OF CENTER. (a) The Lower Rio Grande
1-16 Valley Regional Training, Research, and Economic Development Center
1-17 is established as a component of The Texas A&M University System.
1-18 The center shall be located within the service area at a facility
1-19 owned or operated by the system.
1-20 (b) The operating budget, staffing, and activities of the
1-21 center are subject to the approval of the board.
1-22 (c) The board may assign responsibility for the management
1-23 of the center to any component institution of The Texas A&M
1-24 University System.
2-1 Sec. 88.303. PURPOSE. The center shall:
2-2 (1) develop a comprehensive approach to addressing the
2-3 economic needs of the service area;
2-4 (2) deliver professional human resource development to
2-5 meet the needs of or to create value for the service area's
2-6 economic assets;
2-7 (3) assist federal, state, or local governmental
2-8 entities in economic development collaborations in the service
2-9 area;
2-10 (4) establish forums for leadership development and
2-11 economic development collaboration to address related community
2-12 issues in the service area;
2-13 (5) serve as a training and research center for
2-14 federal, state, local, or other community development initiatives
2-15 in the service area;
2-16 (6) create collaborative resource development for
2-17 maquiladora and international trade development; and
2-18 (7) create integrated and environmental research
2-19 services to enhance economic and community development initiatives
2-20 in the service area.
2-21 Sec. 88.304. COOPERATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The center
2-22 may execute and carry out affiliation or coordination agreements
2-23 with any other entity or institution in the service area to
2-24 establish or to participate in the establishment or operation of
2-25 the center.
2-26 Sec. 88.305. FUNDING. The center may receive state
2-27 appropriated funds as considered appropriate by the legislature.
3-1 Sec. 88.306. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit,
3-2 accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
3-3 source for the use and benefit of the center.
3-4 Sec. 88.307. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The board shall
3-5 appoint an advisory committee for the center. The advisory
3-6 committee shall make program priority recommendations to the board
3-7 and serve as a resource group for the center.
3-8 (b) The advisory committee consists of:
3-9 (1) a representative of The Texas A&M University
3-10 System;
3-11 (2) the person responsible for the day-to-day
3-12 operation of the center; and
3-13 (3) 12 members of the general public, composed of
3-14 three residents from each county in the service area.
3-15 (c) In appointing public members, the board, on the
3-16 recommendation of the person responsible for the day-to-day
3-17 operation of the center, shall appoint persons who have
3-18 demonstrated an interest in the economic development of the service
3-19 area.
3-20 SECTION 2. The board of regents of The Texas A&M University
3-21 System shall establish the Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional
3-22 Training, Research, and Economic Development Center under
3-23 Subchapter D, Chapter 88, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
3-24 later than September 1, 2000.
3-25 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-4 passage, and it is so enacted.