HBA-DMD H.B. 564 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 564
By: Oliveira
State, Federal, & International Relations
2/11/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Mexico is Texas's number one trading partner and the two
countries have certain mutual interests such as agriculture,
transportation, commerce, and public health.  H.B. 564 creates a border
advocacy division in the governor's office to examine NAFTA related issues
and other issues of common concerns to Texas and Mexico. 

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 772, Government Code, by adding Section 772.010,
as follows: 

Sec. 772.010.  BORDER ADVOCACY DIVISION.  (a)  Requires the governor to
create a border advocacy division (division) in the governor's office that
will do the following: 

(1) examine trade issues between the United States, Mexico, and Canada; 
(2) act as an ombudsman to reduce regulations for government agencies
within the Texas and Mexico border region by improving communication and
cooperation between federal, state, and local governments;  
(3) work with federal officials on transportation issues involving
infrastructure, including roads and bridges, to resolve transportation
issues in order to allow for efficient movement of goods and people across
the border between Texas and Mexico; 
(4) create a unified federal agency process to streamline border crossing
needs by working jointly with federal officials;  
(5) assist in the financing of water and wastewater facilities by
increasing funds to the North American Development Bank; and  
(6) explore the sale of excess electric power from Texas to Mexico.  

(b)  Requires the governor to appoint a director for the division to serve
at the will of the governor and authorizes the governor to appoint the
secretary of state as the director.  

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.