By Martin H.B. No. 1196
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a review and analysis of the process by which agencies
1-3 issue permits.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 481.123, Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 481.123. Duties. The office shall:
1-8 (1) provide comprehensive information on permits
1-9 required for business enterprises in the state and make that
1-10 information available to applicants and other persons;
1-11 (2) assist applicants in obtaining timely and
1-12 efficient permit review and in resolving issues arising from the
1-13 review;
1-14 (3) facilitate contacts between applicants and state
1-15 agencies responsible for processing and reviewing permit
1-16 applications;
1-17 (4) assist applicants in the resolution of outstanding
1-18 issues identified by state agencies, including delays experienced
1-19 in permit review;
1-20 (5) develop comprehensive application procedures to
1-21 expedite the permit process;
1-22 (6) compile a comprehensive list of all permits
1-23 required of a person desiring to establish, operate, or expand a
2-1 business enterprise in the state;
2-2 (7) encourage and facilitate the participation of
2-3 federal and local government agencies in permit coordination;
2-4 (8) make recommendations for eliminating,
2-5 consolidating, simplifying, expediting, or otherwise improving
2-6 permit procedures affecting business enterprises, by requesting
2-7 that the state auditor, with the advice and support of the
2-8 department, initiate a business permit re-engineering review
2-9 process involving all state agencies;
2-10 (9) develop and implement an outreach program to
2-11 publicize and make small business entrepreneurs and others aware of
2-12 services provided by the office; <and>
2-13 (10) adopt rules, procedures, instructions, and forms
2-14 required to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the
2-15 office under this subchapter; and
2-16 (11) except as provided in Section 481.129, complete
2-17 the implementation of the above enumerated business permit review
2-18 process on or before September 1, 1994, and provide all recommended
2-19 statutory changes as needed to the Texas Legislature on or before
2-20 January 1, 1995.
2-21 SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
2-22 amended by adding Section 481.129 to read as follows:
2-23 Sec. 481.129. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS. The office shall
2-24 consult and cooperate with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
2-25 Commission in conducting any studies on permits issued by the Texas
3-1 Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The Texas Natural
3-2 Resource Conservation Commission shall cooperate fully in the study
3-3 and analysis of the procedures involving the issuance of permits by
3-4 that commission and shall, in any report issued, evaluate all
3-5 alternatives for improving the process pursuant to the office's
3-6 responsibilities under Section 481.123. The office and the Texas
3-7 Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall jointly submit any
3-8 report required under Section 481.123.
3-9 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
3-10 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.