CHAPTER 490B. TEXAS-MEXICO STRATEGIC INVESTMENT COMMISSION

GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH

SUBTITLE F. COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER 490B. TEXAS-MEXICO STRATEGIC INVESTMENT COMMISSION

Sec. 490B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas-Mexico Strategic Investment

Commission.

(2) "Texas-Mexico border region" has the meaning assigned by

Section 2056.002.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1215, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.001 by Acts 2007,

80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

921, Sec. 17.001(31), eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 490B.002. PURPOSE. The ongoing economic stability and

growth of Texas and the improved quality of life for all Texans

are dependent in part on coordination with neighboring states.

Texas and the Mexican border states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo

Leon, and Tamaulipas face common challenges in the areas of

infrastructure, health care, access to and availability of water,

economic development and trade, and environmental protection.

The commission will encourage a collaborative approach between

Texas and neighboring Mexican states in specific areas so as to

better address challenges and plan for the future.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1215, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.002 by Acts 2007,

80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

921, Sec. 17.001(31), eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 490B.003. TEXAS-MEXICO STRATEGIC INVESTMENT COMMISSION;

MEMBERS. (a) The Texas-Mexico Strategic Investment Commission

is established.

(b) The commission is composed of:

(1) the border commerce coordinator or a designee;

(2) the executive director of the Texas Department of

Transportation or a designee;

(3) the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development

Board or a designee;

(4) the commissioner of state health services or a designee;

(5) the chair of the Railroad Commission or a designee; and

(6) the executive director of the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality or a designee.

(c) The border commerce coordinator shall serve as the chair of

the commission.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1215, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.003 by Acts 2007,

80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

921, Sec. 17.001(31), eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 490B.004. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission

shall:

(1) represent government agencies within the Texas-Mexico border

region to help reduce regulations by improving communication and

cooperation between federal, state, and local governments;

(2) examine trade issues between the United States and Mexico;

(3) study the flow of commerce at ports of entry between this

state and Mexico, including the movement of commercial vehicles

across the border, and establish a plan to aid that commerce and

improve the movement of those vehicles;

(4) work with federal officials to resolve transportation issues

involving infrastructure, including roads and bridges, to allow

for the efficient movement of goods and people across the border

between Texas and Mexico;

(5) work with federal officials to create a unified federal

agency process to streamline border crossing needs;

(6) identify problems involved with border truck inspections and

related trade and transportation infrastructure;

(7) work to increase funding for the North American Development

Bank to assist in the financing of water and wastewater

facilities;

(8) explore the sale of excess electric power from Texas to

Mexico;

(9) identify areas of environmental protection that need to be

addressed cooperatively between Texas and the Mexican states;

(10) identify common challenges to health care on which all

states can collaborate; and

(11) develop recommendations, when possible, for addressing

border challenges.

(b) The commission shall work with local governments,

metropolitan planning organizations, and other appropriate

community organizations in the Texas Department of

Transportation's Pharr, Laredo, and El Paso transportation

districts, and with comparable entities in Mexican states

bordering those districts, to address the unique planning and

capacity needs of those areas. The commission shall assist those

governments, organizations, and entities to identify and develop

initiatives to address those needs.

(c) The commission shall work with industries and communities on

both sides of the Texas-Mexico border to develop international

industry cluster initiatives to capitalize on resources available

in communities located adjacent to each other across the border.

(d) The commission may meet at least once a year with

representatives from the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila,

Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas during the Border Governors Conference

to discuss issues and challenges of the Texas-Mexico border

region and develop strategic collaborative approaches for

addressing the challenges.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1215, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.004 by Acts 2007,

80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

921, Sec. 17.001(31), eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 490B.005. FUNDING. (a) In addition to any amount

appropriated by the legislature, the commission may request state

agencies to apply for funds from the federal government or any

other public or private entity. The commission may also solicit

grants, gifts, and donations from private sources on the state's

behalf. The use of a gift, grant, or donation solicited under

this section must be consistent with the purposes of the

commission.

(b) The commission shall review and may require reports of state

agencies that receive appropriations, gifts, grants, donations,

or endowments as a result of the commission's recommendations.

(c) A state agency may accept a gift, grant, donation, or

endowment received as a result of the commission's

recommendations.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1215, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 490.005 by Acts 2007,

80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

921, Sec. 17.001(31), eff. September 1, 2007.