JWB S.B. 501 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS WAYS & MEANS S.B. 501 By: Zaffirini (Coleman) 5-5-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas cities, counties, school districts, and other governments provide a wide range of services for individuals and families, funded primarily by state and local taxes. Many of these services and funding sources, however, are eligible for increased federal funding. Every other year the comptroller issues a Texas Performance Review report recommending proposals for various state agencies. This year's report, Disturbing the Peace: The Challenge of Change in Texas Government, recommended in Health and Human Services Issue 32 that Texas increase federal funding of local health and human services by helping local governments claim local expenditures. PURPOSE The bill allows local governments to request assistance from the Comptroller's Office in obtaining federal funding and allows the comptroller to charge up to 20 percent of the additional funding obtained to cover expenses. 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 Subchapter B (General Powers and Duties), Chapter 403 (Comptroller of Public Accounts), Government Code, by adding Section 403.026. ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OBTAINING FEDERAL AID. (a) Provides that the comptroller, at the request of a political subdivision, may provide assistance in obtaining federal funding. (b) Provides that the comptroller may charge up to 20 percent of any additional money obtained to cover expenses for assisting a political subdivision. SECTION 2.Emergency Clause.