Bill Text: TX HB68 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to an annual state budget and legislative budget sessions in even-numbered years and to political contributions made during a legislative session.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-11 - Referred to Appropriations [HB68 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB68-Introduced.html

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86R602 MAW-D
By: Raymond H.B. No. 68

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an annual state budget and legislative budget sessions
in even-numbered years and to political contributions made during a
legislative session.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 301.001, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 301.001. TIME OF MEETING. (a) In each odd-numbered
year, the [The] legislature shall convene in regular session at 12
noon on the second Tuesday in January [of each odd-numbered year].
(b) In each even-numbered year, the legislature shall
convene in budget session at 12 noon on the third Tuesday in April.
SECTION 2. Section 316.001, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 316.001. LIMIT. The rate of growth of appropriations
in a state fiscal year [biennium] from state tax revenues not
dedicated by the constitution may not exceed the estimated rate of
growth of the state's economy.
SECTION 3. Sections 316.002(a), (b), and (e), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Before the Legislative Budget Board submits the budget
as prescribed by Section 322.008(c), the board shall establish:
(1) the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy
from the current fiscal year [biennium] to the next fiscal year
[biennium];
(2) the level of appropriations for the current fiscal
year [biennium] from state tax revenues not dedicated by the
constitution; and
(3) the amount of state tax revenues not dedicated by
the constitution that could be appropriated for the next fiscal
year [biennium] within the limit established by the estimated rate
of growth of the state's economy.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the board shall
determine the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy by
dividing the estimated Texas total personal income for the next
fiscal year [biennium] by the estimated Texas total personal income
for the current fiscal year [biennium]. Using standard statistical
methods, the board shall make the estimate by projecting through
the fiscal year [biennium] the estimated Texas total personal
income reported by the United States Department of Commerce or its
successor in function.
(e) In the absence of an action by the Legislative Budget
Board to adopt a spending limit as provided in Subsections (a) and
(b), the estimated rate of growth in the state's economy from the
current fiscal year [biennium] to the next fiscal year [biennium]
shall be treated as if it were zero, and the amount of state tax
revenues not dedicated by the constitution that could be
appropriated within the limit established by the estimated rate of
growth in the state's economy shall be the same as the level of
appropriations for the current fiscal year [biennium].
SECTION 4. Section 316.008(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) Unless the legislature adopts a resolution under
Article VIII, Section 22(b), of the Texas Constitution raising the
proposed limit on appropriations, the proposed limit is binding on
the legislature with respect to all appropriations for the next
fiscal year [biennium] made from state tax revenues not dedicated
by the constitution.
SECTION 5. Section 316.045, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 316.045. REDUCTION IN CERTAIN AGENCY FEES. (a) Each
state agency that sets the fees charged by that agency in amounts
that are reasonable and necessary to cover the administrative costs
of the agency shall review the amounts charged as fees on an annual
[a biennial] basis. The agency shall review the fees before the
beginning of each state fiscal year [biennium] and incorporate its
recommendations based on that review in its budget request
submitted to the Legislative Budget Board and the budget division
of the governor's office.
(b) If the agency determines that the fees are set at a level
that exceeds the administrative costs of the agency as of the date
of the review, the agency shall reduce the amount of the affected
fees to the appropriate level and shall charge the reduced fees
during the subsequent fiscal year [biennium]. Each agency shall
give specific recognition to reductions in salary expenses
resulting from statutorily directed employee attrition.
SECTION 6. Sections 316.092(b), (c), and (d), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) For the purposes of Section 49-g(c-2), Article III,
Texas Constitution, not later than December 1 of each
[even-numbered] year preceding the year in which this section
expires as provided by Subsection (e), the select committee shall
determine and adopt for the next state fiscal year [biennium] a
sufficient balance of the fund in an amount that the committee
estimates will ensure an appropriate amount of revenue available in
the fund. In determining the sufficient balance for that fiscal
year [biennium], the committee shall consider:
(1) the history of fund balances;
(2) the history of transfers to the fund;
(3) estimated fund balances during that fiscal year
[biennium];
(4) estimated transfers to the fund to occur during
that fiscal year [biennium];
(5) information available to the committee regarding
state highway congestion and funding demands; and
(6) any other information requested by the committee
regarding the state's financial condition.
(c) On or before October 1 of each [even-numbered] year
preceding the year in which this section expires as provided by
Subsection (e), the comptroller shall provide to the select
committee the comptroller's projection of the amounts to be
transferred to the fund during the next state fiscal year
[biennium].
(d) When the select committee has adopted under Subsection
(b) the amount of the sufficient balance of the fund for a state
fiscal year [biennium], the matter of approving that amount shall
be presented to each house of the legislature in a concurrent
resolution during the next succeeding [regular] legislative
session, other than a special session of the legislature. The
resolution must be presented for a vote in each house of the
legislature not later than the 30th day of that legislative
session, must be approved by a vote of a majority of the members of
each house, and must be finally approved by each house not later
than the 45th day of that legislative session. If a resolution
finally approved under this subsection is amended during the
legislative process to provide for a different sufficient balance
of the fund than that adopted under Subsection (b), that different
balance is the sufficient balance adopted under this section for
purposes of Section 316.093. If a resolution finally approved
under this subsection does not provide for a different sufficient
balance of the fund or if a resolution is not finally approved as
provided by this subsection, the sufficient balance adopted under
Subsection (b) is the sufficient balance adopted under this section
for purposes of Section 316.093.
SECTION 7. Sections 316.093(c) and (e), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(c) If under Section 316.092 a sufficient balance has not
been adopted for the comptroller to consider under this section,
the comptroller shall adjust the allocation of amounts to be
transferred to the fund and to the state highway fund provided by
Section 49-g(c), Article III, Texas Constitution, so that the total
of those amounts is transferred to the economic stabilization fund,
except that the comptroller shall reduce a transfer made under this
subsection as necessary to prevent the amount in the fund from
exceeding the limit in effect for that fiscal year [biennium] under
Section 49-g(g) of that article.
(e) For the purposes of Section 49-g(c-2), Article III,
Texas Constitution, the comptroller shall adjust the allocation
provided by Section 49-g(c-1) of that article of amounts to be
transferred to the fund and to the state highway fund under Section
49-g(c) of that article in a state fiscal year beginning on or after
September 1, 2025, so that the total of those amounts is transferred
to the economic stabilization fund, except that the comptroller
shall reduce a transfer made under this subsection as necessary to
prevent the amount in the fund from exceeding the limit in effect
for that fiscal year [biennium] under Section 49-g(g) of that
article.
SECTION 8. Section 317.003(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The governor or Legislative Budget Board may make a
proposal at any time except during a [regular or special] session of
the legislature. A proposal may apply to an appropriation that has
been made for any specified fiscal year that has not ended at the
time the proposal is made.
SECTION 9. Sections 322.008(a), (c), and (d), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The director, under the direction of the board, shall
prepare the general appropriations bill for introduction at each
regular and budget [legislative] session of the legislature.
(c) Not later than the fifth day after a regular or budget
[legislative] session convenes, the director shall transmit a copy
of the budget of estimated appropriations prepared by the director
to the governor and each member of the legislature.
(d) Not later than the seventh day after a regular or budget
[legislative] session convenes, the director shall transmit a copy
of the general appropriations bill to the governor and each member
of the legislature.
SECTION 10. Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 322.021 to read as follows:
Sec. 322.021. STUDY TO IMPLEMENT ANNUAL BUDGET. (a) The
board, with the assistance of the Texas Legislative Council, shall
examine the laws and operations of state government to determine
how the implementation of annual state budgets may affect those
laws and operations and shall adopt recommendations for legislative
and administrative action necessary to implement an annual budget
as effectively as practicable.
(b) The board shall make its initial recommendations under
this section not later than November 1, 2020.
SECTION 11. Section 403.121(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In the statement required by Article III, Section 49a,
of the Texas Constitution the comptroller shall list outstanding
appropriations that may exist after the end of the current fiscal
year but may not deduct them from the cash condition of the treasury
or the anticipated revenues of the next fiscal year [biennium] for
the purpose of certification. The comptroller shall base the
reports, estimates, and certifications of available funds on the
actual or estimated cash condition of the treasury and shall
consider outstanding and undisbursed appropriations at the end of
each fiscal year [biennium] as probable disbursements of the
succeeding fiscal year [biennium] in the same manner that earned
but uncollected income of a current fiscal year [biennium] is
considered in probable receipts of the succeeding fiscal year
[biennium]. The comptroller shall consider as probable
disbursements warrants that will be issued by the state before the
end of the fiscal year.
SECTION 12. The heading to Section 253.034, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 253.034. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AND
FOLLOWING REGULAR OR BUDGET [LEGISLATIVE] SESSION OF LEGISLATURE.
SECTION 13. Section 253.034, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1)
to read as follows:
(a) During the period beginning on the 30th day before the
date a regular [legislative] session of the legislature convenes
and continuing through the 20th day after the date of final
adjournment of that regular session, a person may not knowingly
make a political contribution to:
(1) a statewide officeholder;
(2) a member of the legislature; or
(3) a specific-purpose committee for supporting,
opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder or member of the
legislature.
(a-1) During a budget session of the legislature, a person
may not knowingly make a political contribution to:
(1) the governor or lieutenant governor;
(2) a member of or a candidate for election to the
legislature; or
(3) a specific-purpose committee for supporting,
opposing, or assisting the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a
member of or a candidate for election to the legislature.
(b) A statewide officeholder, a member of or a candidate for
election to the legislature, or a specific-purpose committee for
supporting, opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder or a
member of or candidate for election to the legislature may not
knowingly accept a political contribution, and shall refuse a
political contribution that is received, during an applicable [the]
period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (a-1). A political
contribution that is received and refused during that period shall
be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th day after the
date of receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by
common or contract carrier is not considered received during a
[that] period if it was properly addressed and placed with postage
or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered
to the contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The
date indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or
contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the
contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or
contract carrier unless proven otherwise.
(c) This section does not apply to a political contribution
that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used:
(1) in an election held or ordered during a [the]
period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (a-1) in which the person
accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was
made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the
appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that
office;
(2) to defray expenses incurred in connection with an
election contest; or
(3) by a person who holds a state office or a member of
the legislature or by a specific-purpose political committee that
supports or assists only that person or member if the contribution
was made during the period prescribed by Subsection (a) and the
person or member was defeated at the general election held
immediately before the regular session is convened [or by a
specific-purpose political committee that supports or assists only
that person or member].
SECTION 14. The heading to Section 253.0341, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 253.0341. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES DURING AND FOLLOWING REGULAR OR BUDGET
[LEGISLATIVE] SESSION OF LEGISLATURE.
SECTION 15. Sections 253.0341(a) and (b), Election Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) During the period beginning on the 30th day before the
date a regular [legislative] session of the legislature convenes
and continuing through the 20th day after the date of final
adjournment, or at any time during a budget session of the
legislature, a person not a member of the caucus may not knowingly
make a contribution to a legislative caucus.
(b) A legislative caucus may not knowingly accept from a
nonmember a contribution, and shall refuse a contribution from a
nonmember that is received, during a [the] period prescribed by
Subsection (a). A contribution that is received and refused during
a [that] period prescribed by Subsection (a) shall be returned to
the contributor not later than the 30th day after the date of
receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by common or
contract carrier is not considered received during a [that] period
if it was properly addressed and placed with postage or carrier
charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered to the
contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The date
indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or
contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the
contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or
contract carrier unless proven otherwise.
SECTION 16. The changes in law made by this Act do not
affect the validity of an appropriation made before September 1,
2021, for any part of the two consecutive state fiscal years ending
August 31, 2023.
SECTION 17. (a) This Act takes effect as provided by
Subsection (b) of this section, but only if the constitutional
amendment proposed by the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019,
providing for an annual state budget and annual legislative
sessions for budget purposes is approved by the voters. If that
proposed constitutional amendment is not approved by the voters,
this Act has no effect.
(b) This section and Section 10 of this Act take effect
January 1, 2020. The other sections of this Act take effect
September 1, 2021.