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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 of |
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the Border Region. |
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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 471 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 471. BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE BORDER REGION |
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Sec. 471.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Border region" means the portion of this state |
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located within 100 kilometers of this state's international border. |
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(2) "Bureau" means the Bureau for Economic Development |
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of the Border Region. |
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Sec. 471.002. BUREAU; MEMBERS. (a) The bureau is an agency |
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of the state. |
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(b) The bureau consists of nine members appointed as |
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follows: |
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(1) two members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house; |
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(4) one member appointed by the secretary of state; |
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and |
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(5) as ex officio members, the chairperson of: |
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(A) the House Committee on Border and |
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Intergovernmental Affairs; and |
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(B) the senate committee to which border affairs |
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are referred. |
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(c) Bureau members shall be selected to provide the bureau |
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technical expertise in financial planning and development, |
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construction, engineering, trade, and other appropriate criteria. |
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Sec. 471.003. TERMS. Appointed members serve staggered |
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terms of two years, with as near as possible to one-half of the |
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members' terms expiring February 1 of each year. |
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Sec. 471.004. MEETINGS; OFFICERS; OFFICE. (a) The bureau |
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shall hold at least one regular meeting in the first quarter of each |
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calendar 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 chairperson. |
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(c) The bureau shall meet subject to the call of the |
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chairperson. |
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Sec. 471.005. EXPENSES. A member of the bureau is entitled |
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to reimbursement for expenses incurred for service on the bureau, |
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as provided by the General Appropriations Act. A member may not |
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receive any compensation for that service. |
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Sec. 471.006. 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. 471.007. DUTIES. The bureau shall: |
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(1) draft and submit reports to advise the legislature |
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about economic development opportunities in the border region; |
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(2) provide evaluation of specific proposals for use |
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of economic development funds in the border region, including tax |
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abatement agreements; |
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(3) consult with the Texas Economic Development and |
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Tourism Office within the office of the governor on issues related |
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to the border region; |
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(4) study and report on opportunities to improve trade |
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across the international border; |
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(5) consult with the division of planning coordination |
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within the governor's office under Section 772.004 about issues |
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related to the border region that mutually concern the bureau and |
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the division; and |
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(6) make recommendations to the legislature about |
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establishment of infrastructure projects to assist multiple |
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counties in the border region. |
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Sec. 471.008. 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 appointing the initial appointed members of |
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the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region, as added |
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by this Act: |
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(1) the governor shall appoint one member to serve a |
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term expiring February 1, 2010, and one member to serve a term |
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expiring February 1, 2011; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member |
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to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010, and one member to serve a |
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term expiring February 1, 2011; |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010, and |
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one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2011; and |
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(4) the secretary of state shall appoint one member to |
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serve a term expiring February 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |