JLC S.B. 886 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS APPROPRIATIONS C.S.S.B. 886 By: Ratliff (Junell) 4-08-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently, there are no emergency appropriations for the Department of Human Services, the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the Employees Retirement System, the Texas Youth Commission, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the Department of Information Resources, the Department of Transportation, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the comptroller. S.B. 1898 sets forth emergency appropriation to certain state agencies. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1898 sets forth emergency appropriation to certain state agencies. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES. Provides that $18,681,494 from certain sources is appropriated to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services for a two-year period. SECTION 2. WORKFORCE COMMISSION: JOBS PROGRAM. Provides that the sum of $5,106,092, consisting of federal funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, is appropriated to the Texas Workforce Commission for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act for the purpose of providing services in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program and related transportation expenses of program participants. SECTION 3. YOUTH COMMISSION. Provides that $4,998,517 from the general revenue fund, $5,052,187 from the federal government, and $116,716 from interagency contracts has been appropriated to the Texas Youth Commission for a two-year period. SECTION 4. EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS AND COMPTROLLER. Provides that $2,444,769 from TANF funds and $343,979 from general revenue is appropriated to the Employees Retirement System and $1,143,864 from TANF funds and $149,854 from general revenue is appropriated to the comptroller for a two-year period. SECTION 5. EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY. Sets forth the findings of the legislature. Provides that $500,000 from certain sources is appropriated to the Texas Water Development Board for a two-year period. Provides that amounts appropriated in this section are to be expended for payments under a contract that provides for the repayment to the general revenue fund, with interest, no later than August 31, 1999. Provides that funds appropriated under this section will come from funds originally appropriated to the trusteed programs within the office of the governor while the interest will remain in the general revenue fund, for the period beginning on the date of repayment and ending on the earlier of August 31, 1999, or the expiration of two years beginning on the date of repayment. Prohibits the amount of appropriation made by this subsection from exceeding $500,000. Requires the appropriation to be credited to the appropriation item from which amounts were transferred under this section. SECTION 6. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES. Provides that $992,000 from general revenue is appropriated to the Department of Information Resources for a two-year period. Provides that the sum of $253,000 is appropriated from the general revenue fund to the Department of Information Resources for a two-year period. SECTION 7. NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION. Provides that $550,000 from certain sources is appropriated to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission for a two-year period. Sets forth purposes for which the fund is to be used. SECTION 8. WORKERS' COMPENSATION PAYMENTS. Provides that the sum of $10,827,069 is appropriated out of the general revenue fund to the office of the attorney general for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act for the payment of workers' compensation benefits. Provides that the sum of $1,500,000 is appropriated out of the general revenue fund to the office of the attorney general for the period beginning on the effective date of this Act and ending December 31, 1997, for the purposes of resolving a cash-flow shortfall incurred in administrating Section 75, Article IX, Chapter 1063, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995 (the General Appropriations Act). Requires the office of the attorney general to reimburse the general revenue fund, by December 31, 1997, for the full amount of this latter appropriation. Requires the comptroller to credit the reimbursements to the unappropriated balances of the general revenue fund. SECTION 9. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND BOARD. Authorizes the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board, notwithstanding Section 160, Article IX, Chapter 1063, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995 (the General Appropriations Act), to pay the salaries, out of funds previously appropriated and approved, of not more than 18 full-time equivalent employees during the current fiscal biennium. SECTION 10. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. Provides that $5,600,000 from certain sources is appropriated to the Texas Department of Transportation for a two-year period, if S.B. 1706 is enacted by the 75th Legislature at its regular session and becomes law in furtherance of Chapter 456D, Transportation Code. Sets forth purposes for which the fund is to be used. SECTION 11. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE Adds a new SECTION 1. PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES. Provides emergency funding. Renumbers previous SECTION 1 to become SECTION 2. WORKFORCE COMMISSION: JOBS PROGRAM. Adds a new SECTION 3. YOUTH COMMISSION. Provides emergency funding. Renumbers previous SECTION 2 to become SECTION 4. and retitles to conform with added language. Adds to the Workforce portion, monies for Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and for the Texas Youth Commission. Increase funding accordingly. Adds a new SECTION 5. EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY. Provides emergency funding. Add a new SECTION 6. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES. Provides emergency funding. Adds a new SECTION 7. NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION. Provides emergency funding. Renumbers previous SECTION 3 to become SECTION 8. WORKERS' COMPENSATION PAYMENTS. Provides emergency funding and deletes previous subsections (b) and (c) which appropriated an additional $1,500,000. Renumbers previous SECTION 4 to become SECTION 9. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND BOARD. Provides emergency appropriations. Adds a new SECTION 10. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. Provides emergency funding.