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.