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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study comparing the business environments of Texas |
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and Louisiana. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter P, Chapter 481, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 481.213 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 481.213. STUDY COMPARING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS OF |
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TEXAS AND LOUISIANA. (a) The office shall conduct a study to |
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compare the business environment of this state with that of the |
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State of Louisiana. The study conducted under this section must: |
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(1) research and compare the laws of each state that |
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tend to encourage or discourage economic development or job |
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creation or retention, including laws that impose taxes or |
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regulations or that provide economic incentives, including tax |
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credits or exemptions, state or local subsidies, and available |
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grants or loans, likely to impact a business's decision to locate or |
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maintain operations in each state; and |
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(2) identify any laws of this state that may place |
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businesses located in this state at a competitive disadvantage with |
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businesses located in the State of Louisiana. |
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(b) Not later than January 31, 2014, the office shall submit |
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a written report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the |
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standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over |
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economic development containing the findings of the study conducted |
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under this section and the office's recommendations. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2014, the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and the chairs of the standing committees of the legislature with |
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jurisdiction over economic development shall, based on the report |
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received under Subsection (b), submit to the legislature written |
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recommendations on statutory and regulatory changes necessary to |
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improve the business environment of this state in a manner that |
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encourages more businesses to locate or maintain operations in this |
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state without creating wasteful subsidies. |
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(d) This section expires August 31, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |