By:  Harris, Ellis, Wentworth                          S.B. No. 937

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the creation of the Texas Advisory Commission on

 1-2     Intergovernmental Relations.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Chapter 741 to read as follows:

 1-6        CHAPTER 741.  TEXAS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL

 1-7                                  RELATIONS

 1-8           Sec. 741.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:

 1-9                 (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Advisory Commission

1-10     on Intergovernmental Relations.

1-11                 (2)  "Local government" means a political subdivision

1-12     of this state or a combination of political subdivisions of this

1-13     state.

1-14           Sec. 741.002.  ESTABLISHMENT.  The Texas Advisory Commission

1-15     on Intergovernmental Relations is established as an agency of the

1-16     state.

1-17           Sec. 741.003.  PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS.  (a)  The purpose of

1-18     the commission is to strengthen and improve relationships between

1-19     the state and local governments and to enhance cooperation among

1-20     local governments.

1-21           (b)  The commission shall:

1-22                 (1)  provide a forum for discussion of

1-23     intergovernmental issues;

 2-1                 (2)  conduct and coordinate research on

 2-2     intergovernmental issues;

 2-3                 (3)  collect and distribute information on

 2-4     intergovernmental issues; and

 2-5                 (4)  publish and distribute research and conference

 2-6     reports.

 2-7           Sec. 741.004.  COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.  (a)  The

 2-8     commission is composed of:

 2-9                 (1)  seven members appointed by the governor as

2-10     follows:

2-11                       (A)  a member of the governor's office;

2-12                       (B)  a member from the Office of State-Federal

2-13     Relations; and

2-14                       (C)  a representative of an association of:

2-15                             (i)  county governments;

2-16                             (ii)  municipal governments;

2-17                             (iii)  public school districts;

2-18                             (iv)  junior college districts; and

2-19                             (v)  regional councils of government;

2-20                 (2)  a member of the Senate Committee on

2-21     Intergovernmental Relations appointed by the lieutenant governor;

2-22     and

2-23                 (3)  a member of the House Committee on Urban Affairs

2-24     or the House Committee on County Affairs appointed by the speaker

2-25     of the house.

 3-1           (b)  Service on the commission by a public official is an

 3-2     additional function of the official in an advisory capacity and

 3-3     does not constitute the holding of a public office.

 3-4           (c)  A member of the commission serves a two-year term.  The

 3-5     terms expire September 1 of each odd-numbered year.

 3-6           (d)  If a house or senate committee specified by this section

 3-7     does not exist, the lieutenant governor or speaker, as applicable,

 3-8     may appoint any member of the appropriate house who serves on a

 3-9     committee with jurisdiction relating to local government.

3-10           Sec. 741.005.  ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF COMMISSION.

3-11     (a)  The members of the commission shall elect a presiding officer

3-12     and a secretary.  The officers are elected for a term of two years.

3-13           (b)  The commission shall hold at least one meeting every six

3-14     months and at other times that the presiding officer considers

3-15     necessary.

3-16           (c)  An agency of the state and any local government shall

3-17     make available to the commission any information or document not

3-18     confidential under law that is requested by the commission and

3-19     shall cooperate with the commission in carrying out its functions.

3-20           Sec. 741.006.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.  (a)  The

3-21     University of Texas at Arlington School of Urban and Public Affairs

3-22     shall provide the commission with an executive director and other

3-23     staff necessary to carry out its powers and duties under this

3-24     chapter.

3-25           (b)  The dean of The University of Texas at Arlington School

 4-1     of Urban and Public Affairs, in consultation with the commission,

 4-2     shall appoint the executive director of the commission.

 4-3           Sec. 741.007.  COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.  A member of the

 4-4     commission may not receive a salary for service on the commission

 4-5     but is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary

 4-6     expenses incurred in performing duties of the commission.

 4-7           Sec. 741.008.  CONTRACTS.  The commission may apply for,

 4-8     receive, and expend any appropriation or grant from the state, a

 4-9     local government, the federal government, or any other public or

4-10     private source.  Funds received under this section shall be managed

4-11     by The University of Texas at Arlington School of Urban and Public

4-12     Affairs and shall be maintained in the accounts of the university.

4-13           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

4-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

4-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

4-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

4-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

4-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.