BILL ANALYSIS
By: Shapleigh
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Texas Military Preparedness Commission was established in 2003 in an approach to transform the State's approach to the military presence in Texas. The TMPC was make up of nine Commissioners and was to increase the military value of defense bases and their communities, and they were given control over the Texas Military Value Revolving Loan Fund.
The Loan Fund provides loans to communities attempting to increase the military value of an existing base. This bill addresses the Revolving Loan Fund by expanding it to be eligible to communities to minimize the negative effects of a base reduction and to positively affected communities affected by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
This bill also addresses several administrative items of the TMPC including changing when they report and who they must meet with annually.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1 takes out the requirement that the TMPC develop methods to improve veterans' employment opportunities and to develop and maintain a database of defense contractors and subcontractors in this state. It also removes a duplicative reporting requirement.
SECTION 2 changes when the TMPC reports are to be made by stipulating that it is in even-numbered years, but still allowing them to update the report in odd-numbered years. This section also states that the commission shall periodically meet only with state agencies with defense-related programs or those that are engaged in project in a defense-dependent community, and with each member of the legislature whose district contains an active, closed or realigned military installation to discuss defense-related issues.
SECTION 3 allows the TMPC to issue loans to defense dependent communities that have been negatively or positively affected as a result of the BRAC process in, or after 2005.
SECTION 4 adds to the definition of a "defense base" by including facilities that have been closed as a result of BRAC.
SECTION 6 requires that defense communities applying for funds from the Revolving Loan Fund prepare a Defense Community Economic Redevelopment Value Statement to provide details of the potential use of the funds for which they have applied and how those funds will promote economic development in the community.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives the necessary vote, otherwise it takes effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ENGROSSED TO SUBSTITUTE
The Substitute version added new Sections 1 and 2 making some technical changes to some of the administrative functions of the TMPC.
The Substitute also added the requirement for communities to prepare a Defense Community Economic Redevelopment Value Statement when seeking funds from the Revolving Loan Fund.