BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 2717

                                                                                                                                  By: King, Tracy

                                                                                                           Border & International Affairs

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Texas has experienced a large influx of immigrants over the past 15 years.  Along with the large number of legal immigrants, there are also many undocumented immigrants, often from Latin America.  Some of the root causes of this immigration are the lack of job, education, and business opportunities in the immigrants' home countries.

 

H.B. 2717 establishes a joint interim study to look at programs that can contribute to increased economic prosperity in the home countries of incoming immigrants.  The study will examine opportunities to encourage business and economic development, both in Texas communities that receive immigrants and in the countries and states from which they come, as a way to stem the tide of undocumented immigration and ensure prosperity in our local communities.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 2717 requires the Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade, the House Committee on Border and International Affairs, and the House Committee on Financial Institutions to conduct a joint interim study to investigate current programs in Texas or in other states and possible new programs, that would provide opportunities for immigrants to voluntarily invest in development efforts in their home states or countries, or offer certain exchange programs between Texas, Mexico, or other Latin American countries.  The bill requires the study include an assessment of the viability and capacity of the State of Texas to facilitate such programs.

 

The bill requires the Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade, the House Committee on Border and International Affairs, and the House Committee on Financial Institutions to report the results of the joint interim study, along with recommendations for statutory changes, to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the 80^th Legislature on or before September 1, 2008. 

 

The bill provides that this Act expires October 1, 2008.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.