81R30520 PMO-D

By: Gonzales, Chavez, Oliveira, Martinez, H.B. No. 4067

Leibowitz

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 471 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 471. BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE BORDER REGION

Sec. 471.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Border region" means the portion of this state located:

(A) not more than 100 kilometers from the state's international border; or

(B) in a county located on an international border.

(2) "Bureau" means the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region.

Sec. 471.002. BUREAU; MEMBERS. (a) The Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region is a partnership of participating public and private entities administered by a public or private institution of higher education that is designated by the steering committee of the bureau and agrees to serve in that capacity.

(b) The bureau has a steering committee that consists of seven members as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(2) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) three members appointed by the administration of the institution of higher education; and

(4) the chair of:

(A) the House Committee on Border and Intergovernmental Affairs; and

(B) the senate committee to which border affairs are referred.

(c) The members of the bureau's steering committee appointed under Subsections (b)(1) and (2) must be residents of the border region. The other appointed members of the steering committee may but are not required to be residents of the border region.

(d) Members of the bureau's steering committee shall be selected to provide the bureau expertise relating to financial planning and development, construction, engineering, and trade.

(e) The institution of higher education that administers the bureau shall provide educational expertise to the bureau.

Sec. 471.003. TERMS. The appointed members of the bureau's steering committee serve staggered terms of two years, with as near as possible to one-half of the members' terms expiring February 1 of each year.

Sec. 471.004. MEETINGS; OFFICERS. (a) The bureau's steering committee shall hold at least one regular meeting annually.

(b) At its first meeting, the steering committee shall select from its membership a presiding officer.

(c) The steering committee shall meet subject to the call of the chairperson.

Sec. 471.005. FUNDING. (a) In addition to any amount appropriated by the legislature, the bureau may apply for and accept funds from the federal government or any other public or private entity. The bureau or any member of the bureau's steering committee may also solicit and accept pledges, gifts, and endowments from private sources on the bureau's behalf. A pledge, gift, or endowment solicited under this section must be consistent with the purposes of the bureau.

(b) The bureau shall manage and approve disbursements of any appropriations, funds, pledges, gifts, and endowments that are the property of the bureau.

Sec. 471.006. DUTIES. The bureau shall:

(1) facilitate research in fields of study affecting the economy in the border region;

(2) deliver economic and financial education to persons living in the border region;

(3) draft and submit reports to advise the legislature about economic development opportunities in the border region;

(4) provide evaluation of specific proposals for use of economic development funds in the border region, including tax abatement agreements;

(5) consult with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the office of the governor on issues related to the border region;

(6) study and report on opportunities to improve trade across the international border; and

(7) make recommendations to the legislature about establishment of infrastructure projects to assist multiple counties in the border region.

Sec. 471.007. GIFTS AND GRANTS; OTHER ASSISTANCE. (a) The bureau may accept gifts and grants from any source to be used to carry out the bureau's duties. The bureau shall actively seek gifts from businesses and organizations that represent businesses to support the bureau's functions.

(b) The institution of higher education that administers the bureau may provide facilities and services to further the purposes of the bureau.

SECTION 2. (a) In appointing the initial appointed members of the steering committee of the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region, as added by this Act:

(1) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010;

(2) the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010; and

(3) the administration of the institution of higher education that administers the bureau shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010, and two members to serve a term expiring February 1, 2011.

(b) As soon as practicable after the initial appointed members of the steering committee of the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region have been appointed in accordance with Sections 471.002(b)(1) and (2), Government Code, as added by this Act, and have qualified for office, the initial members of the steering committee that have been appointed under Sections 471.002(b)(1) and (2), Government Code, as added by this Act, and the initial members designated under Section 471.002(b)(4), Government Code, as added by this Act, shall designate the institution of higher education as required by Section 471.002, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.