Economic development projects.

The Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Act authorizes the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, governed by a board of directors, to make loans and provide other assistance to public and private entities for various types of economic development projects, among other things. The activities of the bank under these provisions are funded from the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Fund, which is continuously appropriated for these purposes. This bill would authorize the board to enter into development and financing agreements for projects within the California-Mexico border region, as defined. The bill would authorize the bank to establish and participate in a binational financing authority to facilitate and support the economic development of communities within the border region. The bill would require the bank to develop guidelines for the selection, review, and approval of border region projects and authorize the bank to issue bonds, the proceeds of which would be deposited in the Binational Development Account, which the bill would create within the fund. By expanding the purposes for which a continuously appropriated fund may be used, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would state that certain provisions of this bill shall become operative only if the Executive Director of the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank determines that there are sufficient funds available to implement those provisions and submits a letter to the Legislature to that effect.