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.