SCT H.B. 1673 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


STATE FEDERAL & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
H.B. 1673
By: Hunter
4-7-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND

Prior to the Sunset Review of the Library and Archives Commission in the
74th Legislature, the Commission had statutory authority to pay Commission
members per diem and reimburse them for actual expenses incurred in
connection with attending Commission meetings.  The statute was amended
during the Sunset review process in the last session of the Legislature to
extend the authorization to include reimbursement for actual expenses
incurred in the pursuit of Commission business not connected with
Commission meetings.  Unfortunately, in the process of adding this
authorization, the Sunset Commission staff inadvertently deleted the per
diem provision .  A recent audit by the Comptroller of Public Accounts
uncovered this change and, in spite of the fact that funds have been
appropriated for per diem payments, the disbursements were disallowed.
The Sunset Commission staff has confirmed that deleting authority for per
diem for Commission members was not the intent of the legislation.
Accordingly, this legislation would restore authorization to pay Texas
State Library and Archives Commission members per diem in connection with
attending meetings of the Commission. 

PURPOSE

This legislation would allow the TSL&A to pay their commission members per
diem, in keeping with the General Appropriations Act, for attending a
meeting of the commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 441.001(n), Government Code, to state that a
member of                                        the Texas State Library
and Archives Commission is entitled to the per
diem provided by the General Appropriations Act for attending a meeting
of the commission. 
 
SECTION 2. Emergency Clause.