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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to evaluating governmental financial matters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 107.002, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A fiscal note prepared by the Legislative Budget Board |
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as described by Chapter 314, Government Code, must be attached to a |
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resolution granting permission to sue before a legislative |
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committee hearing may be held on the resolution. |
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SECTION 2. Section 314.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 314.001. SYSTEM OF FISCAL NOTES. The Legislative |
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Budget Board shall establish a system of fiscal notes identifying |
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the probable costs of each bill or resolution, including a joint or |
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concurrent resolution, that authorizes or requires the expenditure |
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or diversion of state funds for a purpose other than one provided |
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for in the general appropriations bill. |
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SECTION 3. Section 315.004(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) At the request of the lieutenant governor or speaker of |
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the house of representatives, a state agency shall prepare an |
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economic impact statement for any pending bill, concurrent |
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resolution, or joint resolution that directly affects that agency. |
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Preparation of the statement shall be coordinated through the |
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Legislative Budget Board director. |
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SECTION 4. Section 320.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 320.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "mandate" means |
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a requirement or restriction made by a statute enacted by the |
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legislature or a rule adopted by a state agency [on or after January
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1, 1997,] that requires a political subdivision to establish, |
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expand, or modify an activity in a way that requires the expenditure |
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of revenue by the political subdivision that would not have been |
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required in the absence of the statutory provision or |
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administrative rule. The term includes a requirement for a report, |
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but does not include a requirement or restriction that only creates |
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flexibility in allocating resources. |
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SECTION 5. Section 320.004, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 320.004. REVIEW OF UNFUNDED MANDATES. (a) The Sunset |
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Advisory Commission in performing a review of a state agency whose |
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functions affect political subdivisions may [Before September 1 of
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the even-numbered year before the third anniversary of the date of
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enactment of a mandate identified by the interagency work group
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under Section 320.003, the interagency work group shall]: |
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(1) review the legislative history of any [the] |
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mandate related to the functions of the state agency being |
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reviewed; |
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(2) conduct an evaluation on the benefits of the |
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mandate and the costs of the mandate on affected political |
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subdivisions; and |
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(3) include any information gathered under this |
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section in the report required under Section 325.010 [present a
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written report to the legislature and the governor on the
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interagency work group's findings]. |
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(b) During a review of a state agency, a political |
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subdivision affected by a mandate related to the functions of the |
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agency may present information to the commission regarding the |
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mandate and costs associated with the mandate and may recommend |
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changes to current law that may provide more efficient use of |
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resources. |
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(c) A political subdivision may periodically review each |
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mandate to which the political subdivision is subject and recommend |
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changes for making an activity or measure more efficient, including |
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elimination of [the regular session immediately following the
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issuance of a report under Subsection (a), the legislature by law
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may continue the mandate for a period not to exceed three years, by
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law may repeal the mandate, or may take no action on] the mandate, |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, the Senate Finance Committee, the House |
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Appropriations Committee, and the Sunset Advisory Commission. |
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SECTION 6. Section 2001.024, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A fiscal note required under Subsection (a)(4) that is |
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included with a notice for a proposed rule that affects a political |
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subdivision may include a statement identifying any requirement or |
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restriction that the rule imposes on the political subdivision and |
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whether the requirement or restriction includes an additional |
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commitment of time or expense by the political subdivision. |
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SECTION 7. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 320.003, Government Code; |
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(2) Section 2056.011, Government Code; |
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(3) Section 303.004, Labor Code; and |
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(4) Section 240.903, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |