Bill Text: TX HB2888 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the economic inclusion and diversification task force.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-18 - Referred to International Relations & Economic Development [HB2888 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2888-Introduced.html
87R5505 MWC-D | ||
By: Lopez | H.B. No. 2888 |
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relating to the establishment of the economic inclusion and | ||
diversification task force. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
(1) "Economic development incentive" means a monetary | ||
incentive or tax incentive, as those terms are defined by Section | ||
490G.001, Government Code. | ||
(2) "Task force" means the economic inclusion and | ||
diversification task force established under this Act. | ||
SECTION 2. TASK FORCE. (a) The economic inclusion and | ||
diversification task force is established to study the use and | ||
effectiveness of economic development incentives awarded to | ||
businesses by this state and to offer recommendations on how this | ||
state can award economic development incentives in a more effective | ||
manner to ensure economic diversification, inclusive development, | ||
and investment in the residents and communities of this state. | ||
(b) The task force is composed of nine members as follows: | ||
(1) the chair of the senate natural resources and | ||
economic development committee; | ||
(2) the chair of the house international relations and | ||
economic development committee; and | ||
(3) the following members appointed by the governor: | ||
(A) four representatives of business and | ||
industry, including one member who is a representative of small | ||
businesses; | ||
(B) two members who are economic development | ||
practitioners; and | ||
(C) an economist from an institution of higher | ||
education. | ||
(c) In making appointments to the task force, the governor | ||
shall attempt to appoint persons who represent the gender | ||
composition, minority populations, and geographic regions of this | ||
state. | ||
(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for | ||
service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for | ||
actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force | ||
duties. | ||
(e) The members of the task force shall elect a presiding | ||
officer from among the membership. | ||
(f) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call | ||
of the presiding officer. | ||
(g) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any | ||
other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call, | ||
videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A | ||
meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or | ||
other similar telecommunication method is subject to the | ||
requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government | ||
Code. | ||
SECTION 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall: | ||
(1) study and make recommendations on whether in the | ||
next two fiscal bienniums, this state should prioritize the | ||
awarding of economic development incentives to: | ||
(A) Texas-based businesses seeking to expand | ||
their operations within the state; | ||
(B) out-of-state businesses that bring value to | ||
statewide industry supply chains and want to relocate to this | ||
state; | ||
(C) businesses making investments in upskilling | ||
their workforce; | ||
(D) businesses in new industries; or | ||
(E) businesses making investments in new | ||
technologies; | ||
(2) evaluate statewide industry supply chains for | ||
potential areas of investment; | ||
(3) develop a plan to support business enterprises | ||
located in this state by awarding incentives for investing in the | ||
technical support and workforce training needed to scale their | ||
enterprises and potentially reach global markets; and | ||
(4) reach out to universities and junior colleges, | ||
including junior colleges in rural areas of this state, to | ||
encourage their collaboration with businesses in their community | ||
for economic development and diversification purposes. | ||
SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2022, the | ||
task force shall prepare and submit a written report on the results | ||
of the study and recommendations of the task force to the governor, | ||
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and | ||
presiding officer of each standing committee of the senate and the | ||
house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over state | ||
finance matters. | ||
SECTION 5. ABOLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE; EXPIRATION OF ACT. | ||
The task force is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023. | ||
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |