1-1 By: Truan S.B. No. 77 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed December 2, 1998; January 26, 1999, 1-3 read first time and referred to Special Committee on Border 1-4 Affairs; March 15, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 4, Nays 0; March 15, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the making of international cooperation agreements by 1-9 state agencies and political subdivisions; authorizing the issuance 1-10 of bonds. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-13 Chapter 792 to read as follows: 1-14 CHAPTER 792. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS 1-15 Sec. 792.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-16 (1) "Political subdivision" has the meaning assigned 1-17 by Section 791.003. 1-18 (2) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 1-19 783.003. 1-20 Sec. 792.002. AGREEMENTS WITH MEXICO. A state agency or a 1-21 political subdivision may, to the extent permitted under federal 1-22 law, enter into an agreement under this chapter with: 1-23 (1) the United Mexican States or a political 1-24 subdivision of the United Mexican States; 1-25 (2) an agency of the United States; or 1-26 (3) an agency or entity that is created under a treaty 1-27 or executive agreement between the United States and the United 1-28 Mexican States. 1-29 Sec. 792.003. SCOPE OF AGREEMENT. A state agency or a 1-30 political subdivision may enter into an agreement under this 1-31 chapter only if the agreement is for the accomplishment of a 1-32 function that the agency or political subdivision is authorized to 1-33 perform under other law. 1-34 Sec. 792.004. TERMS. (a) Under an agreement authorized by 1-35 this chapter, a political subdivision or a state agency may: 1-36 (1) acquire or dispose of in any manner available to 1-37 the state agency or political subdivision under other law an 1-38 interest in real property in this state or the United Mexican 1-39 States; 1-40 (2) use any funds of the state agency or political 1-41 subdivision that are not otherwise dedicated by law for another 1-42 purpose to accomplish the purposes of the agreement; 1-43 (3) use any equipment, facilities, or other property 1-44 of the state agency or political subdivision to carry out the 1-45 agreement; or 1-46 (4) agree to any other terms that are not prohibited 1-47 under state or federal law. 1-48 (b) An agreement made under this chapter may not provide for 1-49 the liability of this state or a political subdivision on a bond or 1-50 other obligation issued by the United Mexican States or a political 1-51 subdivision of the United Mexican States. 1-52 Sec. 792.005. BONDS. (a) A state agency described by 1-53 Subsection (b) or a political subdivision may issue bonds or other 1-54 evidence of indebtedness to provide financing for an agreement 1-55 under this chapter to the same extent and in the same manner that 1-56 the agency or political subdivision is authorized to issue the 1-57 bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to perform the activity on 1-58 its own behalf. 1-59 (b) Only the following state agencies may issue bonds under 1-60 this section: 1-61 (1) the Department of Agriculture; 1-62 (2) the Texas Department of Economic Development; 1-63 (3) the Texas Department of Housing and Community 1-64 Affairs; 2-1 (4) the Texas Public Finance Authority; 2-2 (5) the Texas Turnpike Authority; or 2-3 (6) the Texas Water Development Board. 2-4 Sec. 792.006. APPROVAL OF GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE BUDGET 2-5 BOARD. An agreement made by a state agency under this chapter that 2-6 involves the use of money appropriated from the state treasury is 2-7 not valid unless it is approved by the governor and the Legislative 2-8 Budget Board. 2-9 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-15 passage, and it is so enacted. 2-16 * * * * *