Department of Commerce Policy Board general files, 1992-1995

Department of Commerce Policy Board general files, 1992-1995, 1 cubic ft. (paper)

Restrictions on Access
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act exceptions including, but not limited to, bank account numbers (Texas Government Code, Section 552.136), home address and phone numbers of government employees or officials and personal family information (Texas Government Code, Sections 552.117 and 552.1175); e-mail addresses (Texas Government Code, Section 552.137); and other information protected under common law privacy (Texas Government Code, Section 552.101), an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). Refer to the overall restriction statement for instructions on requesting access through the Texas Attorney General.

Scope and Content
The Economic Development and Tourism Division (EDT) of the Texas Governor’s Office under Governor Rick Perry specialized in encouraging business expansion and relocation within the state of Texas, as well as promoting domestic and international tourism via partnership with local convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, and private travel-related organizations. The records consist of files generated by the Policy Board of the Texas Department of Commerce, a predecessor agency to the EDT. The files are primarily personnel files for board members, which often contain resumes, biographies, correspondence, invoices, travel vouchers, and other financial records. Also present are folders of unassigned financial statements and board member oaths of office.

Department of Commerce History
The 70th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, through House Bill 4, created the Texas Department of Commerce on September 1, 1987, by consolidating various state agencies, commissions, and boards including the Texas Economic Development Commission, Texas Tourist Development Agency, Texas World Trade Council, Enterprise Zone Board, Technology Training Board, Texas Music Commission, and Texas Film Commission. The Job Training Partnership Act and the Community Development Block Grant programs were also transferred to the department from the Texas Department of Community Affairs. In 1991, the 72nd Legislature reorganized the Department of Commerce through Senate Bill 1070. Policy-making functions and authority were redistributed between the executive director and the Department of Commerce Policy Board. The board was made an advisory board rather than a governing board. The Community Development Block Grant and Rental Rehabilitation programs were transferred to the newly created Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the film and music programs were transferred to the Governor’s Office.

The Department of Commerce was responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing programs to attract new businesses to the state, encourage the growth and expansion of existing businesses, including tourism, and work with local governments and organizations to improve their communities. The department was managed by the executive director and advised by the nine-member Department of Commerce Policy Board. Six seats on the board were held by public members appointed by the governor to six-year terms with the consent of the senate. The other three members, who serve ex-officio, were the chair of the State Job Training Coordinating Council, the presiding officer of the International Trade Commission Governing Board, and the presiding officer of the Trans-Mexico Authority Advisory Board. The 1991 reorganization divided the department into three program divisions (Business Development, Tourism, and Work Force Development), each administered by a deputy director, and six support divisions (Administration, Communications, Data Services, Human Resources, Intergovernmental Relations, and Research and Planning). As of 1992, the department had 318 employees and appropriations of $254,486,306.

(Sources include: “Texas Department of Commerce,” The Handbook of Texas Online, accessed August 19, 2015; Guide to Texas State Agencies, various editions.)

Arrangement
These records are arranged as received, alphabetically by last name and then by subject.

Preferred Citation
(Identify the item), Department of Commerce Policy Board general files, Texas Governor Rick Perry Economic Development and Tourism Division records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information
Accession number: 2015/067

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Office of the Governor on December 19, 2014 thru March 2015.

Inventory of the Department of Commerce Policy Board general files

Please see the finding aid on TARO (https://txarchives.org/tslac/finding_aids/60014.xml) for details on how to access paper-based materials.

Box
2015/067-3398	Carlile, Ken
	Faulconer, Vernon E.
	Frost, Tom
	Gilmore, Vanessa Diane
	Higginbotham-Brooks, Renee
	Kahn, Alan
	Meadows, Patricia B.
	Reasoner, Macey H.
	Verduzco, Jorge
	Williams, Don
	Financial statements – Old
	Oath of office – Old