S.B. No. 750
AN ACT
1-1 relating to a review and analysis of the process by which agencies
1-2 issue permits for business enterprises.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 481.123, Government Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 481.123. DUTIES. The office shall:
1-7 (1) provide comprehensive information on permits
1-8 required for business enterprises in the state and make that
1-9 information available to applicants and other persons;
1-10 (2) assist applicants in obtaining timely and
1-11 efficient permit review and in resolving issues arising from the
1-12 review;
1-13 (3) facilitate contacts between applicants and state
1-14 agencies responsible for processing and reviewing permit
1-15 applications;
1-16 (4) assist applicants in the resolution of outstanding
1-17 issues identified by state agencies, including delays experienced
1-18 in permit review;
1-19 (5) develop comprehensive application procedures to
1-20 expedite the permit process;
1-21 (6) compile a comprehensive list of all permits
1-22 required of a person desiring to establish, operate, or expand a
1-23 business enterprise in the state;
2-1 (7) encourage and facilitate the participation of
2-2 federal and local government agencies in permit coordination;
2-3 (8) make recommendations for eliminating,
2-4 consolidating, simplifying, expediting, or otherwise improving
2-5 permit procedures affecting business enterprises by requesting that
2-6 the state auditor, with the advice and support of the office,
2-7 initiate a business permit reengineering review process involving
2-8 all state agencies;
2-9 (9) develop and implement an outreach program to
2-10 publicize and make small business entrepreneurs and others aware of
2-11 services provided by the office; <and>
2-12 (10) adopt rules, procedures, instructions, and forms
2-13 required to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the
2-14 office under this subchapter; and
2-15 (11) except as provided in Section 481.129, complete
2-16 the implementation of the business permit review process on or
2-17 before September 1, 1994, and provide all recommended statutory
2-18 changes as needed to the legislature on or before January 1, 1995.
2-19 SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
2-20 amended by adding Section 481.129 to read as follows:
2-21 Sec. 481.129. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS. The office shall
2-22 consult and cooperate with the Natural Resource Conservation
2-23 Commission in conducting any studies on permits issued by the
2-24 Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The Natural Resource
2-25 Conservation Commission shall cooperate fully in the study and
3-1 analysis of the procedures involving the issuance of permits by
3-2 that commission and shall, in any report issued, evaluate all
3-3 alternatives for improving the process pursuant to the office's
3-4 responsibilities under Section 481.123. The office and the Natural
3-5 Resource Conservation Commission shall jointly submit any report
3-6 required under Section 481.123.
3-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
3-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.