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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the attorney general of the effects on state |
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law and authority of certain international and other agreements and |
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bodies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The attorney general shall conduct a study |
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to determine whether the law of this state or the legislative |
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authority of the Texas Legislature is or may be restricted, |
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nullified, superseded, preempted, or otherwise directly affected |
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by: |
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(1) any existing or proposed compact, agreement, or |
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other arrangement between the United States, this state, or a |
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political subdivision of this state and a foreign governmental |
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entity, including a foreign state or local governmental entity; |
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(2) any international organization, including a |
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nonprofit corporation, consisting of public or private entities |
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from the United States and any other nation or nations, acting in |
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coordination with a federal, state, or local government, or with a |
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stated purpose of influencing governmental action or public policy; |
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and |
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(3) any foreign or international body acting in |
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connection with or under the authority of a compact, agreement, or |
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other arrangement described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection, |
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through any means including legislative or administrative action, |
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judicial or quasijudicial decision, order, rule, regulation, or |
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other action. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the attorney general shall |
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investigate and report whether any entity described by Subsection |
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(a)(2) or (3) of this section has attempted, formally or |
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informally, to restrict, nullify, supersede, preempt, or otherwise |
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directly affect the law or policy of this state or the authority of |
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any state or local governmental body in this state. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the attorney general shall |
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include consideration of the following: |
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(1) The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
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and any entity created under or in connection with the agreement; |
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(2) the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North |
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America (SPP) and any entity created under or in connection with the |
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agreement, including the North American Competitiveness Council |
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(NACC); |
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(3) the World Trade Organization (WTO) and any |
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associated agreements; |
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(4) the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) |
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and any entity created under or in connection with the agreement; |
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(5) the United Nations and any associated entities and |
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agreements; and |
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(6) North America's SuperCorridor Coalition, Inc. |
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(NASCO). |
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(d) The attorney general may enter into an agreement or |
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other arrangement with a law school at a public institution of |
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higher education in this state under which the attorney general may |
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make use of the resources and personnel of the law school in |
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conducting the study. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2010, the attorney general |
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shall prepare a report of the findings of the study and provide a |
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copy of the report to each member of the legislature. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |