IMF S.B. 330 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


STATE AFFAIRS
S.B. 330
By: Armbrister
4-25-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, future review of the State Office of Administrative Hearings'
(SOAH) functions are not expressly authorized by statute.  During the
interim of the 74th Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor charged the
Senate State Affairs Committee to review the effectiveness of the transfer
of administrative hearings from individual state agencies to SOAH.   S.B.
330 provides that SOAH is subject to periodic sunset review.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 330 provides that the State Office of Administrative
Hearings is subject to periodic sunset review.  

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. Amends Chapter 2003B, Government Code, by adding Section
2003.023, as follows: 

 Sec.  2003.023.  SUNSET PROVISION.  Provides that the State Office of
Administrative  Hearings (SOAH) is subject to review under Chapter 325
(Texas Sunset Act), but is not  abolished under that chapter.  Requires
the office to be reviewed during the periods in  which state agencies
abolished in 2003 and every 12th year after 2003 are reviewed.    

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.  Effective date:  upon passage.