82R2236 JE-D
By: Gonzales of Hidalgo H.B. No. 397
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 F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 490D to read as follows:
CHAPTER 490D. BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE BORDER REGION
Sec. 490D.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. 490D.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;
(4) the chair of the House Committee on Border and
Intergovernmental Affairs, designated by the speaker of the house
of representatives; and
(5) the chair of the senate committee to which border
affairs are referred, designated by the lieutenant governor.
(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 or designated members of the
steering committee may be residents of the border region.
(d) Members of the bureau's steering committee must 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. 490D.003. TERMS. (a) 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.
(b) The members of the bureau's steering committee
designated under Sections 490D.002(b)(4) and (5) serve terms that
expire February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
Sec. 490D.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 presiding officer.
Sec. 490D.005. DUTIES. The bureau shall:
(1) facilitate research in fields of study affecting
the economy in the border region;
(2) make recommendations to the legislature regarding
the provision of 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 the
establishment of infrastructure projects to assist multiple
counties in the border region.
Sec. 490D.006. 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 to carry out the bureau's duties.
(b) 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. The bureau
shall actively seek gifts from businesses and organizations that
represent businesses to support the bureau's functions. A pledge,
gift, or endowment solicited under this section must be consistent
with the purposes of the bureau.
Sec. 490D.007. FACILITIES AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. The
institution of higher education that administers the bureau may
provide facilities and services to further the purposes of the
bureau.
Sec. 490D.008. DURATION. Section 2110.008 does not apply
to 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 under Section 490D.002, Government Code, as added
by this Act:
(1) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member
to serve a term expiring February 1, 2012;
(2) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint one member to serve a term expiring February 1, 2012; 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, 2012, and two members to serve a
term expiring February 1, 2013.
(b) As soon as practicable after the initial members of the
steering committee of the Bureau for Economic Development of the
Border Region have been appointed or designated under Section
490D.002(b)(1), (2), (4), or (5), Government Code, as added by this
Act, those initial members of the steering committee shall
designate the institution of higher education as required by
Section 490D.002, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.