BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.J.R. 1 By: Ellis (Siebert, Stiles) May 16, 1995 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND State leaders have advocated the abolition of the state treasury as a means to save taxpayers money, reduce duplicative efforts, and to streamline government. PURPOSE S.J.R. 1 requires the submission to the voters of a constitutional amendment abolishing the office of state treasurer and transferring the treasurer's powers and duties to the comptroller of public accounts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Adds a temporary provision to the Texas Constitution, as follows: TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) Applies this provision to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 74th Legislature abolishing the constitutional office of state treasurer. (b) Abolishes the constitutional office of state treasurer effective September 1, 1997. Provides that the transfer of specific constitutional powers and duties takes effect on that date. Transfers the statutory powers and duties and the property and other obligations of the treasurer to officers and agencies of state government in the manner that the legislature provides by general law. (c) Provides that this temporary provision expires September 1, 1997. SECTION 2. Amends Section 49-e, Article III, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 3. Amends Section 49-f(b), Article III, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 4. Amends Sections 49-g(i) and (j), Article III, Texas Constitution, to make conforming changes. SECTION 5. Amends Section 50c(b), Article III, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 6. Amends Section 61, Article III, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 7. Amends Section 1, Article IV, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 8. Amends Section 23, Article IV, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 9. Amends Section 4, Article VII, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 10. Amends Section 11b, Article VII, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 11. Amends Section 17(1), Article VII, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 12. Amends Section 18(j), Article VII, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 13. Amends Section 2, Article XV, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change. SECTION 14. Amends Sections 70(h) and (q), Article XVI, Texas Constitution, to make conforming changes. SECTION 15. Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 1996. Sets forth the required language for the ballot. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute bill changes the abolition date from September 1, 1996 to September 1, 1997. The substitute also changes the ballot date from November 7, 1995 to November 5, 1996. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION SJR 1 was considered by the Committee on State Affairs in a public hearing on May 1, 1995 to consider SJR 1. The chair laid out SJR 1 and explained the resolution. The following persons testified neutrally on the resolution: Martha Whitehead representing herself and Mike Doyle representing himself. The following person testified against the bill: James A. Cooley representing himself: James A. Cooley representing himself. The chair left SJR 1 pending. SJR 1 was considered by the Committee on State Affairs in a public hearing on May 9, 1995. The Chair laid out SJR 1. The committee considered one amendment to the bill. The amendment was adopted without objection. The chair requested the staff to incorporate the amendment into a complete substitute. The substitute was adopted without objection. The bill was reported favorably as substituted with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed by a record vote of 9 ayes, 3 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.