Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 3318 updates the "funds sweep" accounting mechanism in the Government Code to provide that dedicated revenues on August 31, 2005, that are estimated to exceed the amount appropriated by the General Appropriations Act and other enactments of the 78th Legislature are available temporarily for spending for general governmental purposes and for appropriations certification by the comptroller. This provision takes effect September 1, 2003.

            House Bill 3318 provides that a fund or account created or re-created in the state treasury by an act of the 78th Legislature, or a dedication or rededication of revenue by an act of the 78th Legislature, is abolished on the later of September 1, 2003, or the effective date of such act. It amends the Utilities Code and the Labor Code to re-create the system benefit fund and the subsequent injury fund, respectively, as accounts in the general revenue fund, and it exempts the funds from abolishment. The statutory dedications, funds, accounts, fee increases, or other dedicated revenues that were enacted before the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, convened, or that remain exempt under a former provision of the Government Code, are also exempt from abolishment.

            The following funds and accounts that are created or re-created, or revenue dedicated or rededicated, by an act of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, are also exempt from abolishment: the tertiary care account; license plate fees; federal funds; trust funds; bond funds; accounts in the economic stabilization fund; the capitol trust fund; the capitol account; the capital renewal account; the museum account; the Texas emissions reduction plan fund; the rural water assistance fund; any economic development fund or account; the Texas enterprise fund; the Other Events trust fund; the prosecutor supplement fund; the municipality airline fares account; the dry cleaning facility release fund; the highway tax and revenue anticipation note fund; the operating permit fees account; the election improvement fund; the motor vehicle insurance and proof of financial responsibility fund; the fund for emergency medical services, trauma facilities, and trauma care systems; state parks account; perpetual care account; Texas B-On-Time student loan account; and the fair defense account. The bill also exempts from such abolishment the funds or accounts created or re-created, or revenue dedicated or rededicated, by proposed constitutional amendments on the September 13, 2003, ballot, and by numerous specified enactments of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003. These provisions take effect June 21, 2003.