HBA-MPA H.B. 1478 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1478
By: Oliveira
Economic Development
3/15/1999
Introduced




BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, centers for border economic enterprise development exist at The
University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, U.T. El Paso, and Texas A&M
International University in Laredo.  The centers provide a database
concerning the Texas-Mexico border, offer seminars and conferences
concerning the border economy, and coordinate economic and enterprise
development planning activities of state agencies to ensure that the border
is integrated into comprehensive state economic development plans. 

The University of Texas at Brownsville, which is the state's southernmost
institution of higher learning, and is located less than a block from
Mexico, does not currently have an economic and enterprise development
center.  H.B. 1478 establishes a center for border economic and enterprise
development on the U.T. Brownsville campus. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 78, Education Code, by adding Section 78.09, as
follows:  

Sec. 78.09. CENTER FOR BORDER ECONOMIC AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT. (a)
Requires the board of regents of The University of Texas (board) to
establish a center for border economic and enterprise development (center)
at The University of Texas at Brownsville. 

(b) Authorizes the center to develop and manage an economic database
concerning the Texas-Mexico border (border), perform economic development
planning and research, provide technical assistance to industrial and
governmental entities, and coordinate economic and enterprise development
planning activities in cooperation with other state agencies to ensure that
the economic needs of the border are integrated within a comprehensive
state economic development plan. 

(c) Authorizes the center to offer seminars and conduct conferences and
other educational programs concerning the border economy and economic and
enterprise development within the state. 

(d) Authorizes the board to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
to aid in the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the center. 

(e) Requires the center to cooperate fully with other listed educational
institutions. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 69.22(e), Education Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 77.36(e), Education Code, to make a conforming
change. 
 
SECTION 4.  Amends Section 87.504(e), Education Code, to make conforming
and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 5.  Requires the board to establish the center no later than
January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 6.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.