SRC-TBR S.B. 1837 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1837 77R15192 JMG-DBy: Shapleigh Business & Commerce 5/7/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1837 amends Chapter 481, Government Code, to establish and fund a Texas Border Strategic Investment Commission to bring a statewide perspective to Texas-Mexico Border region initiatives. To the extent that funds are specifically appropriated for this purpose, the commission will identify, and fund strategic economic development initiatives in the six metropolitan statistical areas in the Texas-Mexico Border Region. 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 G as follows: SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS BORDER STRATEGIC INVESTMENT COMMISSION Sec. 481.101. DEFINITIONS. Defines "commission" and "Texas-Mexico border region." Sec. 481.102. PURPOSE. Sets forth legislative purpose. Sec. 481.103. TEXAS BORDER STRATEGIC INVESTMENT COMMISSION; MEMBERS. (a) Provides that the Texas Border Strategic Investment Commission is established. (b) Provides that the commission is composed of certain state officials. (c) Requires the lieutenant governor to serve as the chair of the commission. Sec. 481.104. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION. (a) Requires the commission, to the extent that funds are specifically appropriated for the purpose, to, after the conclusion of each regular session of the legislature, meet, identify, and direct funding for strategic economic development initiatives in the six metropolitan statistical areas in the Texas-Mexico border region. (b) Requires the strategic investment initiatives to receive funding to be identified using criteria that include certain requirements. (c) Requires the commission to identify initiatives for funding on or before December 1 of each odd-numbered year. Sec. 481.105. REPORT. (a) Requires the commission, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, to file a report with the legislature that states the strategic investment initiatives considered by the commission during the preceding two-year period and identifies the initiatives that received funding during the preceding fiscal biennium. Requires the report to include any recommendations for legislative action the commission considers appropriate to further the creation or function of the commission. (b) Requires the commission, for those initiatives that received funding from the commission during the biennium in which the report is made, to, in addition to evaluating other performance measures identified by the commission, evaluate specific performance measures in the report. Sec. 481.106. FUNDING. (a) Authorizes the commission, in addition to any amount appropriated by the legislature, to apply for and accept funds from the federal government or any other public or private entity. Authorizes the commission to also solicit and accept grants, gifts, and donations from private sources on the commission's behalf. Requires that the use of a gift, grant, or donation solicited or accepted under this section to be consistent with the purposes of the commission. (b) Requires the commission to administer and approve disbursements of any appropriation, fund, pledge, gift, or endowment that is the property of the commission. SECTION 2. Provides that there is appropriated from the economic stabilization fund the sum of $250,000,000 to the Texas Border Strategic Investment Commission established under Chapter 481G, Government Code, as added by this Act, for the two-year period beginning September 1, 2001, for the purposes of that subchapter. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.