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.