BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1605

By: Huffman

Appropriations

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

At the conclusion of each state fiscal biennium, the state has a number of outstanding claims and judgments against it for varying amounts of money, such as warrants voided by the statute of limitations, outstanding invoices to private vendors, unpaid charges for Medicaid recipients, or court judgment settlements. These claims require additional appropriations to be made to honor the state's obligations under the law. C.S.S.B. 1605 sets forth sums of money appropriated out of various accounts to pay certain claims and judgments against the state.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1605 appropriates certain sums of money for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas out of the following funds and accounts:

· the general revenue fund;

· the state highway fund;

· the lottery general revenue fund; and

· the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services general revenue account.

The bill provides for the administration of those payments.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 1605 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes an additional appropriation of $15,294,360.00 from the general revenue fund not included in the engrossed version to pay to the United States of America civil claims arising from the payment of accuracy performance bonuses and reimbursement of administrative quality control costs for SNAP.