| TO: | Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Government Organization |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1771 by Brimer (Relating to economic development programs and funding.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The provisions of the bill requires the executive director of the Department of Economic Development (TDED) to work with the legislature and state agencies to identify grants and programs at all levels of government and to maximize access to federal funds for economic development. It also establishes a seven member Advisory Board or Economic Development Stakeholders to assist TDED in collecting and disseminating information in identifying grants and programs.
In addition, the provisions of the bill establishes a new Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) account in the General Revenue Fund to be used for economic development, infrastructure development, community development, job training programs, and business incentives. The provisions of the bill allow the Governor to make grants from the new TEF, however the provisions of the bill do not provide funding for the new account.
Based on the analysis of the Department of Economic Development and the Comptroller, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
| Source Agencies: | 301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 480 Texas Department of Economic Development, 551 Department of Agriculture
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| LBB Staff: | JK, GO, RT, DE
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