89R8302 SCF-F
By: Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 2308
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Commission on Border
Security and Illegal Immigration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 330 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 330. TEXAS COMMISSION ON BORDER SECURITY AND ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 330.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter is known as the
Texas Commission on Border Security and Illegal Immigration Act.
Sec. 330.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Border
Security and Illegal Immigration.
(2) "State agency" means a department, board,
commission, office, or other agency in the executive, legislative,
or judicial branch of state government. The term includes an
institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code.
SUBCHAPTER B. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION
Sec. 330.051. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. The Texas
Commission on Border Security and Illegal Immigration is an
advisory commission composed of 11 members as follows:
(1) the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant
governor's designee;
(2) the speaker of the house of representatives or the
speaker's designee;
(3) the governor or the governor's designee;
(4) the attorney general or the attorney general's
designee;
(5) the comptroller or the comptroller's designee;
(6) three members of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more
than two of whom may be from the same political party; and
(7) three members of the senate appointed by the
lieutenant governor, not more than two of whom may be from the same
political party.
Sec. 330.052. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor or
governor's designee or, at the discretion of the governor, the
lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor's designee shall serve
as presiding officer of the commission.
Sec. 330.053. VOTE. A vote of the majority of the
commission members present when a quorum is present is an action of
the commission.
Sec. 330.054. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at least
quarterly and at other times at the call of the presiding officer.
Sec. 330.055. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. A commission
member is not entitled to compensation for the member's service but
may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with the
General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 330.056. STAFF. The office of the governor shall staff
the commission.
SUBCHAPTER C. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 330.101. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The commission
shall:
(1) conduct a thorough review of the economic, legal,
cultural, and educational impact of illegal immigration on this
state and its political subdivisions;
(2) conduct a thorough examination of state and
federal laws relating to immigration, migration, and guest worker
programs;
(3) conduct a thorough review of state laws impacting
illegal immigration;
(4) develop a comprehensive list of infrastructure
projects supporting border security in counties on the Texas-Mexico
border;
(5) study the impact of a state migrant worker program
on providing employees to industries most in need of skilled or
unskilled migrant labor;
(6) develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and
sustainable state plan to address:
(A) illegal immigration and the influx of illegal
immigration in this state;
(B) immigration and the use of migrant workers in
this state; and
(C) integration of immigrants with residents of
this state;
(7) recommend to the governor and the legislature
administrative and legislative actions necessary to implement the
state plan described in Subdivision (6):
(A) consistent with the respective
constitutional powers, rights, and responsibilities of the United
States and of this state; and
(B) necessary to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the residents of this state; and
(8) to encourage a comprehensive, coordinated, and
sustainable state response to issues related to immigration, advise
the governor and the legislature on proposed legislation related to
border security and illegal immigration on request of:
(A) the governor;
(B) the lieutenant governor;
(C) the speaker of the house of representatives;
(D) a member of the minority party in the senate
chosen by the senators who are members of that party; or
(E) a member of the minority party in the house of
representatives chosen by the representatives who are members of
that party.
Sec. 330.102. STATE AGENCY INFORMATION. (a) The
commission may request a state agency to provide to the commission
available agency information the commission considers necessary to
discharge the commission's duties under this chapter.
(b) A state agency shall cooperate with the commission to
provide the requested information under Subsection (a):
(1) to the extent not inconsistent with law;
(2) within the limits of the agency's statutory
authority; and
(3) timely as necessary to accomplish the purposes of
this chapter.
Sec. 330.103. TESTIMONY; EXPERT CONSULTANTS. (a) In
performing its powers and duties, the commission may invite
testimony from the governor, legislators, state agencies, and
members of the public.
(b) The commission may consult with experts or other
knowledgeable public or private individuals on any matter related
to the commission's powers and duties under this chapter.
Sec. 330.104. PUBLIC HEARING. The commission may hold one
or more public hearings the commission considers advisable and in
locations in this state the commission selects to afford interested
persons an opportunity to appear and present views on any subject
relating to the commission's powers and duties under this chapter.
Sec. 330.105. REPORT. (a) The commission annually shall
report to the legislature and governor on commission activities and
recommendations.
(a-1) The commission shall submit an initial report to the
legislature and governor not later than six months after the date of
the first commission meeting. The commission shall submit its
first annual report to the legislature and governor not later than
six months after the date the initial report is submitted, or as
soon as practicable after that date. This subsection expires
January 1, 2028.
(b) The commission on request shall provide to members of
the public any report submitted under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.