81R13872 PMO-D
By: Gonzales H.B. No. 4067
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Bureau for Economic Development of
the Border Region.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 471 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 471. BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE BORDER REGION
Sec. 471.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Border region" means the portion of this state
located within 100 kilometers of this state's international border.
(2) "Bureau" means the Bureau for Economic Development
of the Border Region.
Sec. 471.002. BUREAU; MEMBERS. (a) The bureau is an agency
of the state.
(b) The bureau consists of nine members appointed as
follows:
(1) two members appointed by the governor;
(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house;
(4) one member appointed by the secretary of state;
and
(5) as ex officio members, the chairperson of:
(A) the House Committee on Border and
Intergovernmental Affairs; and
(B) the senate committee to which border affairs
are referred.
(c) Bureau members shall be selected to provide the bureau
technical expertise in financial planning and development,
construction, engineering, trade, and other appropriate criteria.
Sec. 471.003. TERMS. Appointed members serve staggered
terms of two years, with as near as possible to one-half of the
members' terms expiring February 1 of each year.
Sec. 471.004. MEETINGS; OFFICERS; OFFICE. (a) The bureau
shall hold at least one regular meeting in the first quarter of each
calendar year.
(b) At its first meeting in each odd-numbered year, the
bureau shall select from its membership a chairperson.
(c) The bureau shall meet subject to the call of the
chairperson.
Sec. 471.005. EXPENSES. A member of the bureau is entitled
to reimbursement for expenses incurred for service on the bureau,
as provided by the General Appropriations Act. A member may not
receive any compensation for that service.
Sec. 471.006. SUNSET PROVISION. The bureau is subject to
Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as
provided by that chapter, the bureau is abolished and this chapter
expires September 1, 2021.
Sec. 471.007. DUTIES. The bureau shall:
(1) draft and submit reports to advise the legislature
about economic development opportunities in the border region;
(2) provide evaluation of specific proposals for use
of economic development funds in the border region, including tax
abatement agreements;
(3) consult with the Texas Economic Development and
Tourism Office within the office of the governor on issues related
to the border region;
(4) study and report on opportunities to improve trade
across the international border;
(5) consult with the division of planning coordination
within the governor's office under Section 772.004 about issues
related to the border region that mutually concern the bureau and
the division; and
(6) make recommendations to the legislature about
establishment of infrastructure projects to assist multiple
counties in the border region.
Sec. 471.008. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The bureau may accept gifts
and grants from any source to be used to carry out the bureau's
duties. The bureau shall actively seek gifts from businesses and
organizations that represent businesses to support the bureau's
functions.
SECTION 2. In appointing the initial appointed members of
the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region, as added
by this Act:
(1) the governor shall appoint one member to serve a
term expiring February 1, 2010, and one member to serve a term
expiring February 1, 2011;
(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member
to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010, and one member to serve a
term expiring February 1, 2011;
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010, and
one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2011; and
(4) the secretary of state shall appoint one member to
serve a term expiring February 1, 2011.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.