JLC H.B. 2778 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS APPROPRIATIONS C.S.H.B. 2778 By: Junell 5-2-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND At the conclusion of each biennium, the State of Texas always faces a number of outstanding claims and judgements against it for varying amounts of money. The claims consist of warrants voided by the statutes of limitations, outstanding invoices to private vendors, unpaid charges for Medicaid recipients, or court settlements. These claims result in additional appropriations being made to honor the state's obligations under the law. PURPOSE H.B. 2778 appropriates funds for the payment of claims and judgements against the state. 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. TRUSTEED PROGRAMS WITHIN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the Oil Overcharge Account No. 5005. Itemizes the claims. Renumbers as appropriate. SECTION 2. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 3. TREASURY DEPARTMENT Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 4. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the Workforce Commission Federal Account No. 5026. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 5. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 6. REAL ESTATE COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 7. REHABILITATION COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 8. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 9. WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 10. RAILROAD COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 11. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 12. DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 13. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EXAMINERS Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 14. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the Petroleum Storage Tank Remediation Account No. 655. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 15. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the State Highway Fund No. 006. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 16. DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 17. YOUTH COMMISSION Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 18. DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 19. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the Prairie View A&M University Current Account No. 245. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 20. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 21. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 22. HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the Texas Opportunity Plan Fund No. 387. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 23. PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 24. COMPTROLLER --STATE FISCAL Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 25. TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 26. TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Prescribes the sums be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund No. 001. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 27. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM Appropriates sums of money for the payment of itemized claims and judgements plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas. Itemizes the claims. SECTION 28. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS AND JUDGEMENTS Requires that before any claim or judgement is paid from appropriated funds, the claim be verified and substantiated by the administrator the the special fund or accounts against which the claim is charged. Provides that the payment have the approval of the Attorney General and the Comptroller of Public Accounts. Prohibits payment of any claim not verified by August 31, 1997, from funds appropriated. Requires each claim to provide information as required by the comptroller. Requires claims for void warrants include specific identification of the goods, services, refund, or other items for which the warrant was originally issued, along with certification by the original payee that the debt is still outstanding. Requires that claims for unpaid goods and services include invoice or other documentation required by the comptroller. SECTION 29. PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AND JUDGEMENTS Authorizes and directs the comptroller to issue warrants on the state treasury in favor of the claimants in an amount not to exceed the amounts itemized in this act. Requires the comptroller to mail or deliver such claims. SECTION 30. Effective September 1, 1997. SECTION 31. Emergency Clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE Section 1 becomes Section 5 and is expanded. Section 2 is expanded. Section 3 becomes Section 28. Section 4 becomes Section 29. Section 5 becomes Section 30. Section 6 becomes Section 31, Emergency Clause. All other language is new.