SRC-TBR C.S.S.B. 326 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 326 77R8498 ATP-DBy: Lucio Business & Commerce 3/22/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, state agencies that interact with Mexico do not have a coordinated multi-agency plan to address issues concerning Mexico. C.S.S.B. 326 requires the Texas Department of Economic Development to coordinate a plan and organize the various state agency initiatives regarding relations with Mexico. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 481, Government Code, by adding Subchapter CC, as follows: SUBCHAPTER CC. TEXAS-MEXICO COMMERCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COORDINATED PLAN Sec. 481.451. DEFINITION. Defines "initiative unit." Sec. 481.452. INITIATIVE UNIT. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Economic Development (department) to appoint to serve on the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Initiative Unit (unit) at least one department representative and one from the staff of each of certain listed agencies or offices. (b) Requires the department to designate one of the members of the initiative unit to serve as the presiding officer of the unit. Sec. 481.453. COORDINATION OF AGENCIES AND OFFICES. Requires the department, with the assistance of the unit, to coordinate efforts with each of the agencies and offices represented by the unit to undertake certain listed responsibilities. Sec. 481.454. PLANS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Authorizes the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Coordinated Plan (plan) to include short-term recommendations and initiatives that the state, including the department and each agency and office represented by the initiative unit, may follow after the adoption of the plan for the ensuing two years and four years and the long-term recommendations and initiatives that the state, including the department and each agency and office represented by the initiative unit, may follow after the adoption of the plan for the ensuing five years, ten years and fifteen years; and recommendations on what the state can do to increase and improve trade with Mexico and with the states that border this state; increase tourism to and from Mexico and tourism to and from the states that border this state and address any important trade problems between this state and Mexico identified by the initiative unit. (b) 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. Sec. 481.455. QUARTERLY REPORTS. Requires each agency and office represented by the unit to submit quarterly reports to the department 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 unit, including certain listed items. Sec. 481.456. PARTNERSHIP TO UPDATE CLEARINGHOUSE. Requires the department to form a partnership with the agencies and offices represented by the unit to ensure that the Texas Business and Community Economic Development Clearinghouse has current knowledge of the plan and the actions taken by the unit and the agencies and offices represented by the unit. Sec. 481.457. STATE AGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROVISIONS INAPPLICABLE. Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the unit. Sec. 481.458. UPDATE OF PLAN. Requires the initiative unit to adopt an updated TexasMexico Commerce and International Relations Coordinated Plan before the fourth anniversary of the date the plan is adopted or the date an updated plan is adopted. SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Department of Economic Development , not later than September 1, 2002, to submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives, members of the legislature and the Legislative Budget Board a detailed report of the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Coordinated Plan adopted under Section 481.453, Government Code, as added by this Act an and the results of its study, accompanied by recommended solutions to any problems identified by the Texas-Mexico Commerce and International Relations Unit and recommendations for legislative action. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends As Filed S.B. 326, to amend Chapter 481, Government Code, by adding Subchapter CC and the Sections that follow. Amends As Filed S.B. 326, to include short-term recommendations and long-term recommendations and incorporation of those recommendations into the operations of the agencies or offices. Amends As Filed S.B. 326 to include provisions to update the plan. SECTION 2. Amends As Filed S.B. 326, to specify that it is the Texas Department of Economic Development, that is to submit the required report and to add the Legislative Budget board and the members of the legislature to the list of recipients of the report. SECTION 3. Effective date; renumbered from SECTION 5. Deletes SECTION 4, which provided that this Act expires November 1, 2002.