Texas 2009 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB4067 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 02/01/2025

Download
.pdf .doc .html
                    81R30520 PMO-D
 By: Gonzales, Chavez, Oliveira, Martinez, H.B. No. 4067
 Leibowitz


 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:
 (A)  not more than 100 kilometers from the state's
 international border; or
 (B)  in a county located on an international
 border.
 (2)  "Bureau" means the Bureau for Economic Development
 of the Border Region.
 Sec. 471.002.  BUREAU; MEMBERS.  (a) The Bureau for Economic
 Development of the Border Region is a partnership of participating
 public and private entities administered by a public or private
 institution of higher education that is designated by the steering
 committee of the bureau and agrees to serve in that capacity.
 (b)  The bureau has a steering committee that consists of
 seven members as follows:
 (1) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
 (2)  one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
 representatives;
 (3)  three members appointed by the administration of
 the institution of higher education; and
 (4) the chair of:
 (A)  the House Committee on Border and
 Intergovernmental Affairs; and
 (B)  the senate committee to which border affairs
 are referred.
 (c)  The members of the bureau's steering committee
 appointed under Subsections (b)(1) and (2) must be residents of the
 border region.  The other appointed members of the steering
 committee may but are not required to be residents of the border
 region.
 (d)  Members of the bureau's steering committee shall be
 selected to provide the bureau expertise relating to financial
 planning and development, construction, engineering, and trade.
 (e)  The institution of higher education that administers
 the bureau shall provide educational expertise to the bureau.
 Sec. 471.003.  TERMS.  The appointed members of the bureau's
 steering committee 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.  (a) The bureau's
 steering committee shall hold at least one regular meeting
 annually.
 (b)  At its first meeting, the steering committee shall
 select from its membership a presiding officer.
 (c)  The steering committee shall meet subject to the call of
 the chairperson.
 Sec. 471.005.  FUNDING. (a)  In addition to any amount
 appropriated by the legislature, the bureau may apply for and
 accept funds from the federal government or any other public or
 private entity. The bureau or any member of the bureau's steering
 committee may also solicit and accept pledges, gifts, and
 endowments from private sources on the bureau's behalf. A pledge,
 gift, or endowment solicited under this section must be consistent
 with the purposes of the bureau.
 (b)  The bureau shall manage and approve disbursements of any
 appropriations, funds, pledges, gifts, and endowments that are the
 property of the bureau.
 Sec. 471.006. DUTIES. The bureau shall:
 (1)  facilitate research in fields of study affecting
 the economy in the border region;
 (2)  deliver economic and financial education to
 persons living in the border region;
 (3)  draft and submit reports to advise the legislature
 about economic development opportunities in the border region;
 (4)  provide evaluation of specific proposals for use
 of economic development funds in the border region, including tax
 abatement agreements;
 (5)  consult with the Texas Economic Development and
 Tourism Office within the office of the governor on issues related
 to the border region;
 (6)  study and report on opportunities to improve trade
 across the international border; and
 (7)  make recommendations to the legislature about
 establishment of infrastructure projects to assist multiple
 counties in the border region.
 Sec. 471.007.  GIFTS AND GRANTS; OTHER ASSISTANCE.  (a)  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.
 (b)  The institution of higher education that administers
 the bureau may provide facilities and services to further the
 purposes of the bureau.
 SECTION 2. (a) In appointing the initial appointed members
 of the steering committee of the Bureau for Economic Development of
 the Border Region, as added by this Act:
 (1) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member
 to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010;
 (2) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
 appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2010; and
 (3) the administration of the institution of higher
 education that administers the bureau shall appoint one member to
 serve a term expiring February 1, 2010, and two members to serve a
 term expiring February 1, 2011.
 (b) As soon as practicable after the initial appointed
 members of the steering committee of the Bureau for Economic
 Development of the Border Region have been appointed in accordance
 with Sections 471.002(b)(1) and (2), Government Code, as added by
 this Act, and have qualified for office, the initial members of the
 steering committee that have been appointed under Sections
 471.002(b)(1) and (2), Government Code, as added by this Act, and
 the initial members designated under Section 471.002(b)(4),
 Government Code, as added by this Act, shall designate the
 institution of higher education as required by Section 471.002,
 Government Code, as added by this Act.
 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.