Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 481.0045. NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY. (a) The office shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of: (1) negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008 for the adoption of office rules; and (2) appropriate alternative d…

Sec. 481.005. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; DUTIES. (a) The governor shall appoint an executive director of the office who serves at the pleasure of the governor. (b) The executive director must have demonstrated experience in the areas of economic development or tourism and executive and …

Sec. 481.0066. AEROSPACE AND AVIATION OFFICE. (a) The office shall establish and maintain an aerospace and aviation office. (b) The office may hire a director of the aerospace and aviation office and staff as necessary to perform the duties of the aerospace and aviation office un…

Sec. 481.0067. SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE. (a) The executive director shall designate an individual as the small business advocate. (b) To be eligible to serve as the small business advocate, a person must have demonstrated a strong commitment to and involvement in small business ef…

Sec. 481.0068. OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE. (a) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 6.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 2003. (b) The Office of Small Business Assistance shall: (1) examine the role of small and historically underutilized businesses in the state's economy a…

Sec. 481.00681. OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE ADVISORY TASK FORCE. (a) In this section: (1) "Small business" means a business that employs at least 25 but not more than 250 individuals. (2) "Task force" means the Office of Small Business Assistance Advisory Task Force. (b) …

Sec. 481.008. AUDIT. (a) The financial transactions of the office are subject to audit by: (1) the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321; or (2) a private auditing firm. (b) The state auditor shall inform the executive director when a financial audit of the office is not i…

Sec. 481.009. REVIEW OF BONDS. (a) Bonds may not be issued under this chapter, and proceeds of bonds issued under this chapter may not be used to finance a project, unless the issuance or project, as applicable, has been reviewed and approved by the bond review board. (b) A membe…

Sec. 481.010. PERSONNEL. (a) The executive director shall employ personnel necessary for the performance of office functions. The equal employment opportunity officer and the internal auditor of the office of the governor shall serve the same functions for the office as they serv…

Sec. 481.012. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS. (a) The office shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the office and the office's procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the office. The office shall make the inform…

Sec. 481.021. GENERAL POWERS OF OFFICE. (a) The office may: (1) adopt and enforce rules necessary to carry out this chapter; (2) adopt and use an official seal; (3) solicit and accept gifts, grants, or loans from and contract with any entity; (4) acquire and convey property or an…

Sec. 481.0211. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The office by rule may establish advisory committees to make recommendations to the office on programs, rules, and policies administered by the office. (b) In establishing an advisory committee under this section, the office shall adopt rul…

Sec. 481.0215. COORDINATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. (a) The executive director of the department or its successor shall work with the legislature and state agencies to identify grants and programs at all levels of government and to maximize access to federal funds for ec…

Sec. 481.022. GENERAL DUTIES OF OFFICE. The office shall: (1) market and promote the state as a premier business location and tourist destination; (2) facilitate the location, expansion, and retention of domestic and international business investment to the state; (3) promote and…

Sec. 481.023. ADMINISTRATION OF OTHER STATUTES. (a) The office shall perform the administrative duties prescribed under: (1) Chapter 1433; and (2) the Development Corporation Act (Subtitle C1, Title 12, Local Government Code). (b), (c) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, S…

Sec. 481.024. TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. (a) The Texas Economic Development Corporation on behalf of the state shall carry out the public purposes of this chapter. The creation of the corporation does not limit or impair the rights, powers, and duties of the office p…

Sec. 481.025. EMPOWERMENT ZONE AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PROGRAM. The office is the agency of this state responsible for administering the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community grant program in this state. The bank shall cooperate with appropriate federal and local agencies as…

Sec. 481.026. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS. The office shall develop and implement a policy that requires the executive director and the staff of the office to research and propose appropriate technological solutions to improve the ability of the office to perform its mission. The tec…

Sec. 481.027. FOREIGN OFFICES. (a) The office shall maintain and operate offices in foreign countries for the purposes of promoting investment that generates jobs in Texas, exporting of Texas products, tourism, and international relations for Texas. The foreign offices shall be n…

Sec. 481.029. COST RECOVERY. The office shall recover the cost of providing direct technical assistance, management training services, and other services to businesses and communities when reasonable and practical. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 986, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 19…

Sec. 481.0295. IDENTIFICATION OF INDUSTRY CLUSTERS. (a) The office shall work with industry associations and organizations and key state agencies to identify regional and statewide industry clusters. (b) The activities of the office in identifying industry clusters may include: (…

Sec. 481.0296. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES. (a) The office shall coordinate state efforts to attract, develop, or retain technology industries in this state in certain sectors, including: (1) the semiconductor industry; (2) information and computer technology; (3) microelectro…

Sec. 481.043. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE. The office shall: (1) provide businesses in the state with technical assistance, information, and referrals related to the export of products and services, including export finance and international business…

Sec. 481.047. CONFIDENTIALITY. Information collected by the office concerning the identity, background, finance, marketing plans, trade secrets, or other commercially sensitive information of a lender or export business is confidential unless the lender or export business consent…

Sec. 481.072. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Cost" has the meaning assigned that term by Subtitle C1, Title 12, Local Government Code. (2) "Project" has the meaning assigned that term by Subtitle C1, Title 12, Local Government Code. (3) "User" includes any person. Added by…

Sec. 481.0725. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The office shall: (1) provide businesses with site selection assistance and communities with investment leads; (2) develop a comprehensive business recruitment marketing plan; (3) participate in international and domestic trade shows, tra…

Sec. 481.073. POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO FINANCING. (a) , (b) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 6.01(3). (c) The office may: (1) purchase, discount, sell, assign, negotiate, and otherwise dispose of notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness incurred to fi…

Sec. 481.075. PROGRAM RULES. (a) The executive director shall adopt rules to establish criteria for determining which users may participate in programs established by the office under this subchapter. The office shall adopt collateral or security requirements to ensure the full r…

Sec. 481.078. TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND. (a) The Texas Enterprise Fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund. (b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund: (1) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for the fund for purposes described by this section; (2…

Sec. 481.079. REPORT ON USE OF MONEY IN TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND. (a) Before the beginning of each regular session of the legislature, the governor shall submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each other member of the legislature a report…

Sec. 481.080. ECONOMIC AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR CERTAIN GRANT PROPOSALS. (a) Before the governor awards a grant under Section 481.078 to an entity for a proposed initiative, the office shall prepare a statement that, specifically and in detail, assesses the direct economic…

Sec. 481.121. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Applicant" means a person acting for himself or authorized to act on behalf of another person to obtain a permit. (2) "Permit office" means the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office's business permit office. (3) "Permit"…

Sec. 481.122. CREATION. The business permit office is an office within the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 4, Sec. 3.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 1.32, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 481.123. DUTIES. The permit office shall: (1) provide comprehensive information on permits required for business enterprises in the state and make that information available to applicants and other persons; (2) assist applicants in obtaining timely and efficient permit revie…

Sec. 481.124. COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURE. (a) The permit office shall develop and by rule implement a comprehensive application procedure to expedite the identification and processing of required permits. The permit office shall specify the permits to which the co…

Sec. 481.125. COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT HANDBOOK. (a) The permit office shall compile a comprehensive list of all state permits required of a person desiring to operate a business enterprise in the state. (b) To the extent possible, the permit office shall organize the list according …

Sec. 481.126. ASSISTANCE OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES. Each state agency, on request of the permit office, shall provide assistance, services, facilities, and data to enable the permit office to carry out its duties. An agency is not required to provide information made confidential b…

Sec. 481.127. COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT INFORMATION. (a) Each state agency required to review, approve, or grant permits for business undertakings, projects, or activities shall report to the permit office in a form prescribed by the permit office on each type of review, approval, or …

Sec. 481.128. NO CHARGES FOR SERVICES. The permit office shall provide its services without charge. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 4, Sec. 3.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 1.38, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 481.129. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS. The permit office shall consult and cooperate with the Natural Resource Conservation Commission in conducting any studies on permits issued by the Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall coo…

Sec. 481.166. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that: (1) economic development programs and services are located in a number of state agencies; (2) businesses and communities need a single point of contact on business and community economic development programs and serv…

Sec. 481.167. TEXAS BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) The office shall establish the Texas Business and Community Economic Development Clearinghouse to provide information and assistance to businesses and communities in the state. (b) The clearinghous…

Sec. 481.172. DUTIES. (a) The office shall: (1) as the primary state governmental entity responsible for out-of-state tourism marketing and promotion efforts, promote and advertise within the United States and in foreign countries, by radio, television, newspaper, the Internet, a…

Sec. 481.173. NAME AND PICTURE OF LIVING STATE OFFICIAL. The name or the picture of a living state official may not be used for advertising purposes under this subchapter. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 4, Sec. 3.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 481.174. ADVERTISEMENTS IN TOURISM PROMOTIONS. (a) The office may sell advertisements in travel promotions in any medium. (b) The executive director shall adopt rules to implement the sale of advertisements under Subsection (a), including rules regulating: (1) the cost of ad…

Sec. 481.211. POWERS AND DUTIES. The office shall: (1) compile and update demographic and economic information on the state; (2) develop and update information products for local communities on community economic development issues and practices that encourage regional cooperatio…