HBA-AMW S.B. 326 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 326
By: Lucio
Economic Development
5/3/2001
Committee Report (Amended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not provide state agencies that interact with Mexico with
a coordinated multiagency plan to address issues concerning Texas-Mexico
commerce.  Senate Bill 326 creates the Texas-Mexico Commerce and
International Relations Initiative Unit for the development of a
Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Coordinated Plan to
organize state agency initiatives regarding trade relations with Mexico. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 326 amends the Government Code to create the Texas-Mexico
Commerce and International Relations Initiative Unit (initiative unit) for
the development of the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations
Coordinated Plan (plan).  The bill sets forth initiative unit composition
requirements and requires the Texas Department of Economic Development
(TDED) to designate one of the members of the initiative unit to serve as
its presiding officer.  The bill requires TDED, with the assistance of the
initiative unit, to coordinate efforts with each of the agencies and
offices represented by the initiative unit to study trade relations between
this state and Mexico and between this state and the states that border
this state and to develop and adopt the plan to propose a course of action
that the state, including TDED and each agency and office represented by
the initiative unit, should take.   

The bill sets forth requirements regarding recommendations and initiatives
to be included in the plan and authorizes each agency and office
represented by the initiative unit to incorporate the applicable
recommendations and initiatives into the agency's or office's operations.
The bill requires each agency and office represented by the initiative unit
to submit quarterly reports to TDED regarding the actions taken by the
agency or office on behalf of the initiative unit or in furtherance of a
plan or recommendation of the initiative unit and sets forth provisions
regarding the contents of the report.  The bill requires TDED to form a
partnership with the agencies and offices represented by the initiative
unit to ensure that the Texas Business and Community Economic Development
Clearinghouse has current knowledge of the plan and the actions taken by
the initiative unit and the agencies and offices represented by the
initiative unit. 

The bill specifies that provisions regarding state agency advisory
committees do not apply to the initiative unit.  The bill requires the
initiative unit to adopt an updated plan before the fourth anniversary of
the date the plan is adopted or the date an updated plan is adopted.  The
bill requires TDED to submit, not later than September 1, 2002, to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives,
members of the legislature, and Legislative Budget Board a detailed written
report of the plan and the results of its study of trade relations,
accompanied by recommended solutions to any problems identified by the
initiative unit and recommendations for legislative action. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 
 
EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 requires a state agency or office, if the agency
or office assumes the functions of the Texas Department of Economic
Development (TDED), to perform the functions of TDED regarding the
Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Coordinated Plan.