1-1     By:  Solis of Cameron, et al.                         H.B. No. 1517
 1-2          (Senate Sponsor - Lucio)
 1-3           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 9, 1999;
 1-4     April 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Special Committee
 1-5     on Border Affairs; May 13, 1999, reported favorably by the
 1-6     following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 13, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-7                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-8                                   AN ACT
 1-9     relating to a study and strategic plan concerning the development
1-10     of the apparel industry in the border region.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "border region" means
1-13     the area composed of the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar,
1-14     Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval,
1-15     Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg,
1-16     Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live
1-17     Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real,
1-18     Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde,
1-19     Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.
1-20           SECTION 2.  STUDY OF APPAREL INDUSTRY; STRATEGIC PLAN. The
1-21     Texas Department of Economic Development shall conduct a study of
1-22     the apparel industry in the border region for the purpose of
1-23     preparing a strategic plan to promote the development of the
1-24     apparel industry in the border region.  As a part of its study, the
1-25     department shall meet with a group of apparel industry leaders and
1-26     representatives of employees working in the apparel industry in
1-27     this state, at least once, to identify segments of the apparel
1-28     industry that can be developed in the border region.  The cost of
1-29     the study may not exceed $50,000 and shall be paid from amounts
1-30     appropriated to the department.
1-31           SECTION 3.  REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2000, the
1-32     Texas Department of Economic Development shall submit to the
1-33     governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
1-34     representatives a written report detailing the strategic plan and
1-35     results of the study required by Section 2 of this Act, including
1-36     any recommendations for legislative action.
1-37           SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September
1-38     1, 1999.
1-39           SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
1-40     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-41     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-42     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-43     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-44                                  * * * * *