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.