By Romo H.B. No. 1557 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the establishment of a single identification number for 1-3 entities doing business with the state. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Section 403.039, to read as follows: 1-7 Section 403.039. State Universal Entity Identification 1-8 Numbering System 1-9 (a) The comptroller shall assign a universal entity number 1-10 to all taxpayers, vendors, individuals, businesses, organizations 1-11 or other entities regulated by it or other state agencies. The 1-12 number shall be called a Texas Identification Number (TIN). It 1-13 shall be based on the comptroller's taxpayer identification number. 1-14 (b) The Texas Identification Number shall be used by each 1-15 state agency and department as the primary identification number 1-16 for its clients. However, other, secondary numbers may be assigned 1-17 as long as they do not unnecessarily create duplication of data 1-18 bases, efforts and costs. 1-19 (c) All state agencies and departments shall cooperate with 1-20 the comptroller to convert existing client identification systems 1-21 to the Texas Identification Number System. The comptroller shall 1-22 have authority to establish rules and regulations governing the 1-23 conversion to and the administration of the Texas Identification 2-1 Number System. This shall include but, not be limited to, the 2-2 procedures for applying for a number under the system. 2-3 (d) The Texas Identification Number System shall be 2-4 implemented as soon as practicable. However, if necessary, state 2-5 agencies and departments may phase in its use over a period not 2-6 longer than five years, beginning September 1, 1993. 2-7 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.