BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                       H.B. 925

79R5015 MCK-D                                                                                               By: Chavez (Lucio)

                                                                                                      International Relations and Trade

5/20/2005

Engrossed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, established an interagency work group under the Office of Rural and Community Affairs to discuss rural issues and to provide information showing the impact each agency has on rural communities for use in developing rural policy.  Currently, there is limited formal cooperation among the various state agencies and offices that provide programs and services in border communities and to residents living near the international border.

H.B. 925 creates an interagency work group on border issues to improve coordination of government programs and services offered in the border area.

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 772, Government Code, by adding Section 772.011, as follows:

Sec. 772.011.  INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP ON BORDER ISSUES.  (a)  Sets forth the purpose of creating an interagency work group .

(b)  Sets forth composition of the work group.

(c)  Requires the work group to meet at least quarterly in Austin to discuss border issues and to provide information showing the impact each agency has on border communities for use in developing border policy.

(d)  Requires the work group, in fulfilling its duties, to consider the effect of policies instituted by the federal government impacting the border region.

(e)  Defines "border region."

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 6, Water Code, by adding Section 6.112, as follows:

Sec. 6.112.  BORDER PROJECTS WEBSITE.  (a)  Defines "border region."

(b)  Authorizes the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to maintain and update an Internet-based directory of border projects, also known as the Border Activity Tracker, containing information about projects in the border region in which a state agency is involved.  Requires TWDB to establish guidelines as to which projects and information are to be included in the directory.

(c)  Authorizes each state agency involved in a project in the border region to electronically submit to TWDB any information required under this section to be on the Internet-based directory of border projects.  Requires each state agency to update the information promptly, not less often than quarterly.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.