79R5947 KEL-D

By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 2529



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a higher education border work group created to address 
and recommend policies regarding border communities and 
international trade.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  DEFINITION.  In this Act, "institution of higher 
education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
	SECTION 2.  HIGHER EDUCATION BORDER WORK GROUP.  Not later 
than November 1, 2005, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating 
Board shall establish a higher education border work group to study 
and propose policies and legislation regarding issues faced by 
border communities and issues related to international trade.
	SECTION 3.  COMPOSITION OF BORDER WORK GROUP.  The border 
work group is composed of:
		(1)  one representative from each institution of higher 
education with a center, institute, or other unit of the 
institution specializing in issues faced by border communities or 
issues related to international trade, as identified by the Texas 
Higher Education Coordinating Board; and
		(2)  the heads of the following agencies or their 
designees:                
			(A)  the coordinating board;                                                 
			(B)  the Office of Rural Community Affairs;                                  
			(C)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community 
Affairs;                
			(D)  the Texas Water Development Board;                                      
			(E)  the Texas Department of Transportation;                                 
			(F)  the Texas Commission on Environmental 
Quality;                        
			(G)  the Texas Workforce Commission;                                         
			(H)  the Department of State Health Services;                                
			(I)  the Health and Human Services Commission;                               
			(J)  the General Land Office;                                                
			(K)  the Texas Education Agency;                                             
			(L)  the Texas Economic Development and Tourism 
Office;                    
			(M)  the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations;                            
			(N)  the attorney general's office; and                                      
			(O)  the secretary of state's office.                                        
	SECTION 4.  DUTIES OF BORDER WORK GROUP.  The border work 
group shall:       
		(1)  meet at least quarterly in Austin to discuss 
issues faced by border communities and issues related to 
international trade;
		(2)  discuss and evaluate ideas and policies to address 
those issues; and   
		(3)  not later than November 1, 2006, submit a report 
recommending appropriate policies to address those issues, 
including any proposals for legislation to implement the policies, 
to the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee and 
subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over higher education.
	SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION.  This Act expires January 1, 2007.                     
	SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September 
1, 2005.