Bill Text: TX HB397 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Vetoed) 2011-06-17 - Vetoed by the Governor [HB397 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB397-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 397
 
 
 
 
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 collaboration of
  participating entities administered by an institution of higher
  education as provided by Subsection (b).  The bureau shall work in
  collaboration with public and private entities solely in an
  advisory capacity on relevant research focused on the border region
  to effectively maximize the economic potential of the region.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (h), the
  administration of the bureau shall alternate on September 1 of each
  odd-numbered year among the following institutions of higher
  education in the following order:
               (1)  a private university that is located in a
  municipality that contains more than 75 percent of the population
  of a county with a population of 1.5 million or more and that has an
  economic development research institute dedicated to researching
  regional economies, selected by the speaker of the house of
  representatives;
               (2)  The University of Texas at Brownsville;
               (3)  The University of Texas--Pan American;
               (4)  The University of Texas at El Paso;
               (5)  The University of Texas at San Antonio; and
               (6)  Texas A&M International University.
         (c)  The bureau has a steering committee that consists of the
  following members:
               (1)  one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
               (2)  one member affiliated with a private university
  described by Subsection (b)(1), appointed by the speaker of the
  house of representatives;
               (3)  one member appointed by the administration of each
  of the following institutions of higher education:
                     (A)  The University of Texas at Brownsville;
                     (B)  The University of Texas--Pan American;
                     (C)  The University of Texas at El Paso;
                     (D)  The University of Texas at San Antonio; and
                     (E)  Texas A&M International University;
               (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 on International
  Relations and Trade, designated by the lieutenant governor.
         (d)  The members of the bureau's steering committee
  appointed under Subsections (c)(2) and (3) must represent a center,
  division, or institute for economic development, border studies,
  enterprise development, workforce development, or similar matters
  within the institution of higher education.
         (e)  The member of the bureau's steering committee appointed
  under Subsection (c)(1) must be a resident of the border region.  
  The other appointed or designated members of the steering committee
  may be residents of the border region.
         (f)  Members of the bureau's steering committee must be
  selected to provide the bureau expertise in matters relating to
  financial planning and development, construction, engineering,
  economic development, employment, or trade.
         (g)  The institution of higher education that administers
  the bureau shall provide educational expertise to the bureau.
         (h)  An institution of higher education may decline to
  administer the bureau for a biennium if the institution notifies
  each of the members of the bureau's steering committee not later
  than the 30th day before the date the institution is scheduled to
  begin administering the bureau.  If an institution declines to
  administer the bureau:
               (1)  the next institution of higher education scheduled
  to administer the bureau shall administer the bureau during the
  biennium;
               (2)  the member affiliated with the institution of
  higher education that has declined to administer the bureau must
  continue to participate in the steering committee but does not
  serve as the presiding officer for the biennium; and
               (3)  the institutions of higher education listed in
  Subsection (b) shall continue to alternate the administration of
  the bureau in the order required by that subsection for subsequent
  bienniums.
         Sec. 490D.003.  TERMS.  (a)  The members of the bureau's
  steering committee appointed under Sections 490D.002(c)(1), (2),
  and (3) serve staggered terms of two years, with four of the
  members' terms expiring September 1 of each odd-numbered year.
         (b)  A member may serve more than one term.
         Sec. 490D.004.  MEETINGS; OFFICERS. (a) The bureau's
  steering committee shall hold at least one regular meeting
  annually.
         (b)  The member of the steering committee affiliated with the
  institution of higher education that is administering the bureau as
  provided by Section 490D.002(b) serves as the presiding officer.
         (c)  The steering committee shall meet subject to the call of
  the presiding officer.
         Sec. 490D.005.  DUTIES. (a)  Subject to Subsection (b), 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.
         (b)  Before a recommendation or evaluation is made under
  Subsection (a), two-thirds of the members of the steering committee
  present at a meeting at which a quorum is present must approve the
  recommendation or evaluation.
         Sec. 490D.006.  FUNDING. (a)  The bureau or any member of
  the bureau's steering committee may 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.
         (b)  The legislature may not make an appropriation for the
  duties or functions 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.  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 September 1, 2013;
               (2)  the speaker of the house of representatives shall
  appoint the member under Section 490D.002(c)(2), as added by this
  Act, to serve a term expiring September 1, 2013;
               (3)  the administration of The University of Texas at
  Brownsville shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring
  September 1, 2013;
               (4)  the administration of The University of Texas--Pan
  American shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring
  September 1, 2013;
               (5)  the administration of The University of Texas at
  El Paso shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring September
  1, 2012;
               (6)  the administration of The University of Texas at
  San Antonio shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring
  September 1, 2012; and
               (7)  the administration of Texas A&M International
  University shall appoint one member to serve a term expiring
  September 1, 2012.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 397 was passed by the House on April
  29, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 116, Nays 29, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 397 on May 23, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 104, Nays 38,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 397 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 21, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 26, Nays
  5.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor       
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