BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1620
	By: Holland et al. (Schwertner)
	Business & Commerce
	5/15/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 1620, the sunset safety net bill, continues the 11 agencies that underwent review by the Sunset Advisory Commission during the most recent review cycle until 2025. If any of one these agency's separate sunset bills do not pass, this bill ensures the agency will not be abolished. Instead, the agency would be continued for two years and subject to a full sunset review again during the 2024�2025 review cycle. The bill specifies if other legislation passes this session that continues any of these agencies, the other legislation controls.

H.B. 1620 amends current law relating to the review date for certain governmental entities subject to the sunset review process.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 691.003, Health and Safety Code, to provide that the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas (board), unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325 (Sunset Law), is abolished September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 481.003, Government Code, to provide that the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325 is abolished and Chapter 481 (Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office), expires September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 5.014, Water Code, to provide that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, is abolished and Chapter 5 (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) expires September 1, 2025. Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 202.010, Human Resources Code, to provide that the Texas Juvenile Justice Board and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, are abolished September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 1701.002, Occupations Code, to provide that the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 6. Amends Section 12.005, Utilities Code, to provide that the Public Utility Commission of Texas, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325 or by Chapter 39 (Restructuring of Electric Utility Industry), is abolished and this title expires September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 7. Amends Section 13.002, Utilities Code, to provide that the Office of Public Utility Counsel, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, is abolished and Chapter 13 (Office of Public Utility Counsel) expires September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 8. Amends Section 1-a(a), Chapter 276, Acts of the 45th Legislature, Regular Session, 1937, to require that the district review be conducted a certain section as if the district were a state agency scheduled to be abolished September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023, and every 12th year after that year.

SECTION 9. Amends Section 201.025, Agriculture Code, to provide that the State Soil and Water Conservation Board, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, is abolished and Chapter 201 (Soil and Water Conservation) expires September 1, 2025. Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 10. Amends Section 751.003, Government Code, to provide that the Office of State-Federal Relations, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, is abolished and Chapter 751 (Office of State-Federal Relations) expires September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2023.

SECTION 11. Amends Section 6.013, Water Code, to require the Texas Water Development Board to be reviewed during the period in which the state agencies abolished in 2025, rather than 2023 and every 12th year after 2023 are reviewed.

SECTION 12. Provides that the provisions of the other Act, if a conflict exists between this Act and another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, that extends the sunset date of a governmental entity, control without regard to the relative dates of enactment.

SECTION 13. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.