1-1           By:  Zaffirini                                   S.B. No. 501

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 10, 1997; February 12, 1997,

 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental

 1-4     Relations; March 6, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote:

 1-5     Yeas 10, Nays 0; March 6, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-7                                   AN ACT

 1-8     relating to authorizing the comptroller to provide assistance to

 1-9     local governments in obtaining funds from the federal government.

1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is

1-12     amended by adding Section 403.026 to read as follows:

1-13           Sec. 403.026.  ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OBTAINING

1-14     FEDERAL AID.  (a)  On the request of a political subdivision of

1-15     this state, the comptroller may provide assistance and technical

1-16     support to the political subdivision in obtaining the maximum

1-17     amount of funding from the federal government to which the

1-18     political subdivision is entitled.

1-19           (b)  To cover the costs of providing assistance under this

1-20     section and to the extent not prohibited under federal law, the

1-21     comptroller may charge a fee to the political subdivision for

1-22     assistance equal to an amount not to exceed 20 percent of any

1-23     additional funds obtained because of the assistance provided by the

1-24     comptroller.

1-25           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-26     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-27     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-28     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-29     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-30     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-31     passage, and it is so enacted.

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