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.