By Conley H.B. No. 512 74R2282 MJW-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the basic orientation and training provided to new and 1-3 prospective members of the governing bodies of state agencies. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Chapter 666 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 666. ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS OF 1-8 STATE AGENCY GOVERNING BODIES 1-9 Sec. 666.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-10 (1) "State agency" means a department, commission, 1-11 board, office, council, or other agency in the executive branch of 1-12 state government that is created by the constitution or a statute 1-13 of this state, including a university system or institution of 1-14 higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. 1-15 (2) "Officer" means a person who holds a position as a 1-16 member of the governing body of a state agency by election or 1-17 appointment. 1-18 Sec. 666.002. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The governor 1-19 shall implement a program designed to orient and inform new 1-20 officers regarding basic laws and procedures that affect the 1-21 conduct and responsibilities of an officer. 1-22 (b) The attorney general, comptroller, state treasurer, 1-23 secretary of state, and presiding officer of the General Services 1-24 Commission shall assist the governor in designing and implementing 2-1 the program. Other state agencies shall assist at the direction of 2-2 the governor. Officers and employees of the legislative and 2-3 judicial branches of government may assist at the request of the 2-4 governor. 2-5 Sec. 666.003. CONTENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The program must, 2-6 through written materials and seminars, communicate practical 2-7 knowledge to officers relating to the receipt and disbursement of 2-8 funds, the budgetary process, requirements of state ethics laws, 2-9 requirements of the open meetings law, the procurement process, 2-10 required reports to the governor and the legislature, possibilities 2-11 for interagency cooperation, and other information that, in the 2-12 judgment of the governor, should be included. 2-13 (b) Seminars shall be held at least twice in each calendar 2-14 year in the city of Austin. Any officer may attend a seminar. Any 2-15 other person who is invited by the governor may also attend. 2-16 (c) An officer who has not previously attended a seminar 2-17 must attend at least one of the first two seminars that are held 2-18 after the date that the person is appointed or elected to the 2-19 person's office. 2-20 Sec. 666.004. PROCEDURES. The governor may establish 2-21 procedures to carry out this chapter. 2-22 SECTION 2. The attendance requirement of Section 666.003(c), 2-23 Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an officer 2-24 first elected or appointed on or after the effective date of this 2-25 Act. 2-26 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-27 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-5 passage, and it is so enacted.