The bill would authorize the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish the Border Court Grant Program to provide reimbursement for certain costs associated with the operation of courts in the border region. OCA could apply for available federal funds and accept grants, gifts, and donations to support the Border Court Grant Program. The bill would direct a grant award to not exceed an amount set by the General Appropriations Act (GAA). The bill would allow OCA to use up to a certain amount of any general revenue appropriated for the Border Court Grant Program to be used for administration costs.
The bill would direct the Office of the Governor (OOG) to make funds available to state agencies and local governments for certain border security operation expenses. The OOG could apply for federal funds and solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for this purpose. Funds received by a state agency would be considered border security funding for the purposes of reporting requirements in the GAA. The bill would allow the OOG to use up to a certain amount of any general revenue appropriated for this purpose to be used for administration costs.
The bill would authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish the Border Institution Grant Program to award financial assistance to certain institutions of higher education for certain purposes. THECB could apply for available federal funds and solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations to support the Border Institution Grant Program. The bill would direct THECB to give priority to certain applicants. The bill would direct a grant award to not exceed an amount set by the GAA. The bill would allow THECB to use up to a certain amount of any general revenue appropriated for the Border Institutions Grant Program to be used for administration costs.
The bill would establish the Texas Center for Border Policy as a joint partnership of the University of El Paso (UTEP) and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and managed by the board of regents of the University of Texas System (the board). The board would employ personnel for the Texas Center for Border Policy and make joint appoints of personnel as necessary. The bill would direct the Texas Center for Border Policy to conduct certain assessments, conduct research, and develop certain metrics and recommendations related to the Texas-Mexico border. The board could solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations to support the Texas Center for Border Policy. The Texas Center for Border Policy would submit a report to the Legislature not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year.
The bill would direct the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the OOG to develop a campaign to promote economic development in the border region. The bill would require the OOG to apply for any federal funds and solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for this purpose. The OOG would submit a report to the Legislature not later than December 31 of each year. The bill would allow the OOG to use up to a certain amount of any general revenue appropriated for this purpose to be used for administration costs.