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Senate Bill 409 |
Senate Author: Nelson |
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Effective: 9-1-05 |
House Sponsor: King, Phil |
Senate Bill 409 amends the Utilities Code to continue the Office of Public Utility Counsel until September 1, 2011. The bill requires the office to prepare and submit to the Sunset Advisory Commission and specified legislative committees an annual report on its activities during the preceding year and specifies certain elements that the report must include. The bill requires the office annually to conduct a public hearing to assist it in developing a plan of priorities and to give the public an opportunity to comment on its functions and effectiveness. A temporary provision requires the state auditor, in coordination with the Legislative Budget Board, to conduct a management audit, focusing on agency impact and performance measures and on consumer savings attributable to the office, to be completed and delivered to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house not later than August 1, 2006. The bill repeals a provision that disqualified from serving as the office's chief executive anyone who was required to register as a lobbyist because of compensated activities on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the office or the Public Utility Commission of Texas.