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.