By Shields H.B. No. 1781
75R2137 JRD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to creating a governor's committee to study cost control
1-3 in state government.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 10, Government Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Chapter 2059 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 2059. GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON COST CONTROL
1-8 Sec. 2059.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency":
1-9 (1) means an office, department, commission, or other
1-10 agency in the executive branch of state government that is created
1-11 by the constitution or a state statute and that has statewide
1-12 jurisdiction; and
1-13 (2) does not include the office of the lieutenant
1-14 governor.
1-15 Sec. 2059.002. COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a) The Governor's
1-16 Private Sector Committee on Cost Control in State Government is
1-17 composed of a number of members as determined by the governor to be
1-18 appropriate. A member of the committee must have the
1-19 qualifications determined by the governor to be of benefit to the
1-20 committee in administering its duties. As soon as possible after
1-21 September 1, 1997, the governor shall appoint a number of members
1-22 to the committee that is sufficient to allow the committee to begin
1-23 its work.
1-24 (b) A member of the committee serves at the will of the
2-1 governor.
2-2 Sec. 2059.003. OFFICERS; COMPENSATION; MEETINGS. (a) The
2-3 governor shall designate a presiding officer from among the members
2-4 of the committee. The committee may elect other officers from its
2-5 members as the committee considers appropriate.
2-6 (b) A member of the committee may not receive compensation
2-7 for service on the committee.
2-8 (c) The committee shall meet at the call of the governor or
2-9 of the presiding officer or as provided by rule of the governor's
2-10 office. The committee shall hold its first meeting not later than
2-11 October 1, 1997.
2-12 Sec. 2059.004. DUTIES. (a) The committee shall study how
2-13 to control costs in state agencies and consider cost-control
2-14 methods used in the private sector. The committee shall then advise
2-15 the governor, the legislature, and the governing bodies of state
2-16 agencies about improving management and reducing costs.
2-17 (b) The committee shall conduct in-depth reviews of the
2-18 operations of state agencies as a basis for evaluating potential
2-19 improvements in state agency operations.
2-20 (c) In performing its duties, the committee shall consider
2-21 providing recommendations about:
2-22 (1) opportunities for increased efficiency and reduced
2-23 costs in state agencies that can be accomplished through
2-24 legislation or through executive branch action;
2-25 (2) situations in which managerial accountability can
2-26 be enhanced and administrative control can be improved;
2-27 (3) opportunities for short-term and long-term
3-1 managerial improvements;
3-2 (4) governmental expenditures, indebtedness, and
3-3 personnel management; and
3-4 (5) specific situations in which further study would
3-5 be justified by the potential savings.
3-6 Sec. 2059.005. AGENCY COOPERATION. The administrative head
3-7 of a state agency shall provide to the committee information that
3-8 is not excepted from required public disclosure under Chapter 552
3-9 that the committee requests in performing its duties, including
3-10 information relating to the structure, organization, personnel, and
3-11 operations of the agency.
3-12 Sec. 2059.006. GIFTS AND GRANTS; STAFF; RESOURCES. (a) The
3-13 governor's office may accept gifts and grants, including the
3-14 donation of labor or in-kind resources, on behalf of the committee
3-15 to accomplish the objectives of this chapter.
3-16 (b) The governor's office and, at the request of the
3-17 governor, a state agency may provide staff support and other
3-18 resources to support the work of the committee.
3-19 Sec. 2059.007. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW.
3-20 Article 6252-33, Revised Statutes, does not apply to the committee
3-21 except for the provisions of Section 4 of that law.
3-22 Sec. 2059.008. FINAL REPORT; ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE.
3-23 (a) Not later than the 30th day before the date that the 76th
3-24 Legislature convenes in regular session, the committee shall submit
3-25 its final report to the governor and to the presiding officer of
3-26 each house of the legislature. If the committee determines that it
3-27 would be useful to the state for the committee to continue its work
4-1 during the subsequent legislative interim, the committee may
4-2 include that determination as a recommendation in its final report.
4-3 (b) The committee is abolished and this chapter expires
4-4 September 1, 1999.
4-5 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
4-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-11 passage, and it is so enacted.