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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Bureau for Economic Development and |
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Hispanic Studies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 470 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 470. BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND |
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HISPANIC STUDIES |
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Sec. 470.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "bureau" means |
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the Bureau for Economic Development and Hispanic Studies. |
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Sec. 470.002. BUREAU; MEMBERS. (a) The Bureau for Economic |
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Development and Hispanic Studies is an agency of the state. |
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(b) The bureau is composed of nine members appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) three members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor |
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from a list of nominees submitted by the Hispanic Caucus of the |
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senate; and |
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(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives from a list of nominees submitted by the |
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Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the house of |
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representatives. |
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(c) The Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the house of |
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representatives and the Hispanic Caucus of the senate, in |
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nominating members, and the governor, lieutenant governor, and |
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speaker of the house of representatives, in appointing members, |
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shall provide for representation of the diversity of this state and |
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shall include members from both urban and rural areas and from all |
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geographic areas of the state. If necessary to make the |
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appointments under Subsection (b), the lieutenant governor and |
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speaker of the house of representatives may request the appropriate |
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caucus to provide additional lists of nominees. |
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(d) A member of the bureau must: |
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(1) be a resident of this state; and |
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(2) have demonstrated an interest in preserving the |
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cultural heritage of the Hispanic citizens of this state and in |
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advancing educational and economic opportunities and political |
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rights for Hispanic citizens. |
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Sec. 470.003. TERMS. Members serve for staggered terms of |
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six years, with the terms of one-third of the members expiring |
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February 1 of each odd-numbered year. |
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Sec. 470.004. MEETINGS; OFFICERS; OFFICE. (a) The bureau |
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shall hold at least one regular meeting in each calendar quarter of |
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each year. |
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(b) At its first meeting in each odd-numbered year, the |
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bureau shall select from its membership a presiding officer and an |
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assistant presiding officer. |
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(c) The bureau shall maintain its main office in Dallas. |
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Sec. 470.005. EXPENSES. Subject to the availability of |
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funds, a member of the bureau is entitled to reimbursement for |
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expenses incurred for service on the bureau, as provided by the |
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General Appropriations Act. A member may not receive any |
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compensation for that service. |
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Sec. 470.006. SUNSET PROVISION. The bureau is subject to |
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Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as |
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provided by that chapter, the bureau is abolished and this chapter |
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expires September 1, 2021. |
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Sec. 470.007. PERSONNEL. The bureau may employ an |
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executive director and personnel necessary to implement this |
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chapter. |
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Sec. 470.008. DUTIES. Subject to the availability of |
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funds, the bureau shall: |
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(1) develop proposals for maximizing trade between |
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this state and all foreign countries; |
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(2) undertake research to encourage the analysis of |
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public policies affecting Hispanic citizens; |
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(3) conduct studies and develop policy proposals on |
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issues of particular interest and importance to Hispanic citizens, |
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including studies and policies relating to: |
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(A) educational issues; |
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(B) employment opportunities, including means by |
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which opportunities created by foreign trade agreements and federal |
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funds may be used to prevent loss of jobs by Hispanic citizens; |
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(C) access to social services; |
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(D) family issues, including issues regarding |
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child abuse and family violence; |
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(E) political rights and access, including |
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voting rights and rights relating to the use of languages; |
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(F) immigration rights; |
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(G) administrative law and regulatory issues; |
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(H) customs law and other law governing |
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international trade; |
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(I) relevant cultural differences, including the |
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effects of use of different languages; |
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(J) affirmative action programs; |
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(K) alcohol and drug abuse; and |
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(L) other pertinent issues; |
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(4) serve as a clearinghouse of information for other |
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agencies and organizations concerned with issues of importance to |
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Hispanic citizens; and |
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(5) distribute the results of its studies and policy |
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proposals to appropriate federal, state, and local governmental |
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agencies and officials, community organizations, private leaders, |
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and the public. |
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Sec. 470.009. ASSISTANCE. The Texas Economic Development |
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and Tourism Office and state institutions of higher education shall |
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assist the bureau in carrying out its duties, including making |
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their facilities available to the bureau at the office's or |
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institution of higher education's own expense. |
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Sec. 470.010. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The bureau may accept gifts |
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and grants from any source to be used to carry out the bureau's |
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duties. The bureau shall actively seek gifts from businesses and |
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organizations that represent businesses to support the bureau's |
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functions. |
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SECTION 2. In making the initial appointments to the Bureau |
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for Economic Development and Hispanic Studies, the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives |
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shall each designate one member for a term expiring February 1, |
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2011, one member for a term expiring February 1, 2013, and one |
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member for a term expiring February 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |