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 * * * * *