PMWJ H.B. 791 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 791 By: Gallego 3-12-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND State agencies are prohibited from accepting grants and gifts unless specifically authorized by statute. Occasionally, the Office of Court Administration has learned of the availability of grants from national agencies such as the State Justice Institute which could be used to improve and enhance court administration programs in Texas, but has been prohibited from applying for such funds. PURPOSE H.B. 791 would authorize the Office of Court Administration to request, accept, and administer gifts, grants, and donations to carry out the statutory purposes of the office. 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 adds a new Section 72.028, Gifts, Grants, and Donations, to the Government Code. Subsec. (a) authorizes the Office of Court Administration to request, accept, and administer gifts, grants, and donations to carry out the statutory purposes of the office. Subsec. (b) prohibits the acceptance of gifts, grants and donations from a law firm, an attorney, an employee of a law firm or a spouse of an attorney or employee of a law firm. Subsec. (c) defines "law firm." SECTION 2. Effective date. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.