BWH C.S.H.B. 404 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS COUNTY AFFAIRS C.S.H.B. 404 By: West, George "Buddy" 3-26-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Section 146.052, Agriculture Code, provides for the office of county inspector of hides and animals in several named counties, including Ector County. The inspector records the characteristics of each hide from a slaughtered animal, and files this information with the county clerk's office. The sheriff of the county assumes the duties of the inspector, if the office of inspector is vacant or abolished. Before the present inspector took office in Ector County, the position was last filled in 1924. PURPOSE If enacted, this bill would abolish the office of inspector of hides and animals for Ector County. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1(a). Amends Subsection 146.052(a), Agriculture Code by striking Ector County from the list of counties to which the subchapter applies; and SECTION 1(b) transfers all records in the possession of the office of inspector of hides and animals in Ector County to the county clerk, and transfers all funds in the possession of inspector of hides and animals in Ector County to the county treasury. SECTION 2(a) provides that a county-wide election on the issue be called by the commissioners court, and conducted on November 3, 1998. Specifies ballot language. SECTION 2(b) requires the county to report the election results to the secretary of state. SECTION 3(a) establishes the effective date of the Act as September 1, 1997, unless an affirmative vote under SECTION 2.(a) occurs. SECTION 3(b) provides for an effective date of January 1, 1999 upon affirmative vote on the proposition. A negative vote would negate SECTION 1. of the Act. SECTION 4. Emergency Clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute changes the original as follows: 1) SECTION 1 of the original is now SECTION 1 (a) of the substitute; 2) SECTION 2 of the original is now SECTION 1(b) of the substitute; 3) New SECTION 2(a) provides that a county-wide election on the issue be called by the commissioners court, and conducted on November 3, 1998. Specifies ballot language; 4) New SECTION 2(b) requires the county to report the election results to the secretary of state; 5) SECTION 3 of the original is now SECTION 3(a), and is amended to establish the effective date of the Act as September 1, 1997, unless an affirmative vote under SECTION 2.(a) occurs; and 6) New SECTION 3(b) provides for an effective date of January 1, 1999 upon affirmative vote on the proposition. A negative vote would negate SECTION 1. of the Act.