By Solis of Cameron, Oliveira, Pickett                H.B. No. 1517
         76R8148 WP-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a study and strategic plan concerning the development
 1-3     of the apparel industry in the border region.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "border region" means
 1-6     the area composed of the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar,
 1-7     Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval,
 1-8     Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg,
 1-9     Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live
1-10     Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real,
1-11     Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde,
1-12     Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.
1-13           SECTION 2.  STUDY OF APPAREL INDUSTRY; STRATEGIC PLAN. The
1-14     Texas Department of Economic Development shall conduct a study of
1-15     the apparel industry in the border region for the purpose of
1-16     preparing a strategic plan to promote the development of the
1-17     apparel industry in the border region.  As a part of its study, the
1-18     department shall meet with a group of apparel industry leaders and
1-19     representatives of employees working in the apparel industry in
1-20     this state, at least once, to identify segments of the apparel
1-21     industry that can be developed in the border region.  The cost of
1-22     the study may not exceed $50,000 and shall be paid from amounts
1-23     appropriated to the department.
1-24           SECTION 3.  REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2000, the
 2-1     Texas Department of Economic Development shall submit to the
 2-2     governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
 2-3     representatives a written report detailing the strategic plan and
 2-4     results of the study required by Section 2 of this Act, including
 2-5     any recommendations for legislative action.
 2-6           SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September
 2-7     1, 1999.
 2-8           SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
 2-9     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.