84R4568 AAF-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 1761
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the oversight of state border security activities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 421.0025, Government Code, is
  transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 421, Government Code,
  redesignated as Section 421.0255, Government Code, and amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 421.0255 [421.0025].  BORDER SECURITY ADVISORY
  COUNCIL. (a) The Border Security Advisory Council consists of:
               (1)  the executive head of each state agency receiving
  state appropriations for purposes related to security at or near
  this state's international border, or the executive head's
  designee;
               (2)  representatives of at least three local
  governmental entities receiving local border security grant
  funding from the Department of Public Safety, appointed by the
  governor, or, if fewer than three entities receive that grant
  funding, representatives of at least one-third of the entities that
  receive that grant funding, appointed by the governor; and
               (3)  at least three mayors of municipalities in which
  state appropriations for purposes related to security at or near
  this state's international border are spent, appointed by the
  governor, or representatives designated by those mayors [members
  appointed by the governor].
         [(a-1)     At least one-third of the members appointed under
  Subsection (a) must be residents of the Texas-Mexico border region,
  as defined by Section 2056.002.]
         (b)  The Border Security Advisory Council shall develop and
  recommend to the Homeland Security Council [office of the governor]
  performance standards, reporting requirements, audit methods, and
  other procedures to ensure that funds allocated [by the office of
  the governor] for purposes related to security at or near this
  state's international border are used properly and that the
  recipients of the funds are accountable for the proper use of the
  funds.  The advisory council shall publish on the office of the
  governor's website the recommendations made to the Homeland
  Security Council under this subsection.
         (c)  The Border Security Advisory Council shall advise the
  Homeland Security Council [office of the governor] regarding the
  allocation of funds [by the office] for purposes related to
  security at or near this state's international border.  
  Recommendations relating to the allocation of those funds must be
  made by a majority of the members of the advisory council.
         (d)  The governor shall designate one member of the Border
  Security Advisory Council as the chair.  The chair shall arrange
  meetings of the Border Security Advisory Council at times
  determined by the members of the advisory council.
         (e)  The meetings of the Border Security Advisory Council are
  subject to the requirements of Chapter 551 to the same extent as
  similar meetings of the Public Safety Commission.  The plans and
  recommendations of the Border Security Advisory Council are subject
  to the requirements of Chapter 552 to the same extent as similar
  plans and recommendations of the Department of Public Safety of the
  State of Texas.
         (f)  Service on the Border Security Advisory Council by a
  state officer or employee or by an officer or employee of a local
  government is an additional duty of the member's office or
  employment.
         SECTION 2.  Section 421.026, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 421.026.  REPORT.  The council shall annually submit to
  the governor a report stating:
               (1)  the status and funding of state programs designed
  to detect and deter homeland security emergencies, including the
  status and funding of counterterrorism efforts;
               (2)  recommendations on actions to reduce threats to
  homeland security, including threats related to terrorism; [and]
               (3)  recommendations for improving the alert,
  response, and recovery capabilities of state and local agencies;
  and
               (4)  an assessment of the performance of, reporting
  requirements for, and allocation of state agency funding for this
  state's border security activities.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  The positions of the members of the Border
  Security Council are abolished on the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  As soon as practicable on or after the effective date of
  this Act, the governor shall appoint members of the Border Security
  Advisory Council under Sections 421.0255(a)(2) and (3), Government
  Code, as transferred, redesignated, and amended by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.