76R10501 AJA-F                           
         By Oliveira, Solis of Cameron                         H.B. No. 1564
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1564:
         By Seaman                                         C.S.H.B. No. 1564
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a feasibility study concerning major league baseball
 1-3     spring training in the border region.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
 1-6                 (1)  "Border region" means the area composed of the
 1-7     counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron,
 1-8     Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio,
 1-9     Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr,
1-10     Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, Live Oak, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen,
1-11     Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, San Patricio, Starr,
1-12     Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and
1-13     Zavala.
1-14                 (2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
1-15     Economic Development.
1-16           SECTION 2.  FEASIBILITY STUDY.  (a) The department shall
1-17     conduct a study of the feasibility of attracting major league
1-18     baseball spring training to the border region and of the effects
1-19     that spring training would have on the region.
1-20           (b)  The department may contract with an appropriate public
1-21     group that represents one or more counties in the border region to
1-22     conduct the study.  If the department contracts with a public
1-23     group, the department shall develop a written plan to monitor the
1-24     performance of the contractor.  The plan must include:
 2-1                 (1)  a method of monitoring the contractor's
 2-2     performance; and
 2-3                 (2)  a requirement for a periodic review of the
 2-4     contractor's billing procedures.
 2-5           SECTION 3.  COSTS OF STUDY.  The costs of the study shall be
 2-6     paid from funds otherwise appropriated to the department, including
 2-7     any gifts or grants, and may not exceed a total of $250,000.
 2-8           SECTION 4.  ECONOMIC EFFECTS.  The study, at a minimum, must
 2-9     consider the potential short-term and long-term economic effects of
2-10     major league baseball spring training on the border region and its
2-11     potential impact on tourism.
2-12           SECTION 5.  REPORT.  Before November 1, 2000, the department
2-13     shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of
2-14     the house of representatives a comprehensive report on the study
2-15     conducted under this Act.
2-16           SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September
2-17     1, 1999, and expires December 31, 2000.
2-18           SECTION 7.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
2-19     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.