By:  Zaffirini, Truan                         S.B. No. 501

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to authorizing the comptroller to provide assistance to

 1-2     local governments in obtaining funds from the federal government.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 403.026 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 403.026.  ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OBTAINING

 1-7     FEDERAL AID.  (a)  On the request of a political subdivision of

 1-8     this state, the comptroller may provide assistance and technical

 1-9     support to the political subdivision in obtaining the maximum

1-10     amount of funding from the federal government to which the

1-11     political subdivision is entitled.

1-12           (b)  To cover the costs of providing assistance under this

1-13     section and to the extent not prohibited under federal law, the

1-14     comptroller may charge a fee to the political subdivision for

1-15     assistance equal to an amount not to exceed 20 percent of any

1-16     additional funds obtained because of the assistance provided by the

1-17     comptroller.

1-18           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-23     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-1     passage, and it is so enacted.