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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the economic inclusion and |
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diversification task force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Economic development incentive" means a monetary |
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incentive or tax incentive, as those terms are defined by Section |
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490G.001, Government Code. |
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(2) "Task force" means the economic inclusion and |
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diversification task force established under this Act. |
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SECTION 2. TASK FORCE. (a) The economic inclusion and |
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diversification task force is established to study the use and |
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effectiveness of economic development incentives awarded to |
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businesses by this state and to offer recommendations on how this |
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state can award economic development incentives in a more effective |
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manner to ensure economic diversification, inclusive development, |
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and investment in the residents and communities of this state. |
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(b) The task force is composed of nine members as follows: |
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(1) the chair of the senate natural resources and |
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economic development committee; |
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(2) the chair of the house international relations and |
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economic development committee; and |
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(3) the following members appointed by the governor: |
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(A) four representatives of business and |
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industry, including one member who is a representative of small |
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businesses; |
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(B) two members who are economic development |
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practitioners; and |
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(C) an economist from an institution of higher |
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education. |
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(c) In making appointments to the task force, the governor |
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shall attempt to appoint persons who represent the gender |
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composition, minority populations, and geographic regions of this |
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state. |
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(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
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service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for |
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actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force |
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duties. |
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(e) The members of the task force shall elect a presiding |
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officer from among the membership. |
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(f) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call |
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of the presiding officer. |
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(g) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any |
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other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call, |
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videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A |
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meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or |
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other similar telecommunication method is subject to the |
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requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government |
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Code. |
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SECTION 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall: |
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(1) study and make recommendations on whether in the |
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next two fiscal bienniums, this state should prioritize the |
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awarding of economic development incentives to: |
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(A) Texas-based businesses seeking to expand |
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their operations within the state; |
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(B) out-of-state businesses that bring value to |
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statewide industry supply chains and want to relocate to this |
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state; |
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(C) businesses making investments in upskilling |
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their workforce; |
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(D) businesses in new industries; or |
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(E) businesses making investments in new |
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technologies; |
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(2) evaluate statewide industry supply chains for |
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potential areas of investment; |
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(3) develop a plan to support business enterprises |
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located in this state by awarding incentives for investing in the |
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technical support and workforce training needed to scale their |
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enterprises and potentially reach global markets; and |
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(4) reach out to universities and junior colleges, |
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including junior colleges in rural areas of this state, to |
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encourage their collaboration with businesses in their community |
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for economic development and diversification purposes. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2022, the |
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task force shall prepare and submit a written report on the results |
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of the study and recommendations of the task force to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and |
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presiding officer of each standing committee of the senate and the |
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house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over state |
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finance matters. |
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SECTION 5. ABOLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE; EXPIRATION OF ACT. |
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The task force is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |