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        Section 481.123.  Duties
    1-8        The office shall:
    1-9        (1)  provide comprehensive information on permits required
   1-10  for business enterprises in the state and make that information
   1-11  available to applicants and other persons;
   1-12        (2)  assist applicants in obtaining timely and efficient
   1-13  permit review and in resolving issues arising from the 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 expedite
   1-21  the permit process;
   1-22        (6)  compile a comprehensive list of all permits required of
   1-23  a person desiring to establish, operate, or expand a business
    2-1  enterprise in the state;
    2-2        (7)  encourage and facilitate the participation of federal
    2-3  and local government agencies in permit coordination;
    2-4        (8)  make recommendations for eliminating, consolidating,
    2-5  simplifying, expediting, or otherwise improving permit procedures
    2-6  affecting business enterprises, by initiating a business permit
    2-7  re-engineering review process involving all state agencies;
    2-8        (9)  develop and implement an outreach program to publicize
    2-9  and make small business entrepreneurs and others aware of services
   2-10  provided by the office; <and>
   2-11        (10)  adopt rules, procedures, instructions, and forms
   2-12  required to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the
   2-13  office under this subchapter; and
   2-14        (11)  complete the implementation of the above enumerated
   2-15  business permit review process on or before September 1, 1994 and
   2-16  provide all recommended statutory changes as needed to the Texas
   2-17  Legislature on or before January 1, 1995.
   2-18        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   2-19        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   2-24                       COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
   2-25        Amend H.B. 1196 as follows:
    3-1        On Page 1, Line 21 strike the word "initiating" and add the
    3-2  following:
    3-3        requesting that the State Auditor, with the advice and
    3-4  support of the department, initiate
    3-5                                                               Eckels