SRC-JRN S.B. 205 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 205
By: Madla
Intergovernmental Relations
2-11-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, reporting requirements of a county auditor to the comptroller
for expenditures used for public roads in the preceding county fiscal year
or for the distribution of funds to a county are based on a calendar year.
A survey of phone calls from county auditors and treasurers shows the
requirement of reporting calendar years is more difficult than the
reporting of county fiscal years. This bill creates a reporting
requirement based on fiscal years. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 205 requires the county auditor to report to the
comptroller the expenditures required by the constitution or other law
spent on public roads or highways used in the preceding county fiscal year
and sets forth requirements for distribution of funds to a county. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 256A, Transportation Code, by adding Section
256.009, as follows: 

Sec. 256.009. REPORT TO COMPTROLLER. Requires the official performing the
duties of the county auditor to file a report with the comptroller which
states the amount of expenditures that have been used for county road and
bridge construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, right-of-way
acquisition, and utility construction and other appropriate road
expenditures required by the constitution or other law to be spent on
public roads or highways by January 30 of each year.  Requires the report
to be in a form prescribed by the comptroller.  Authorizes the comptroller
to distribute money under Section 256.002(a) to a county only if the most
recent report required by Subsection (a) has been filed. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act conforms to Chapter 256A, Transportation
Code, and to Section 1, Chapter 568, Acts of the 74th Legislature, 1995.
Provides that this Act prevails over another Act of the 75th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1997, that relates to nonsubstantive additions and
amendments to enacted codes, if conflicts exist. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.