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.