By Harris                                        S.B. No. 937

      75R5043 CAG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the creation of the Texas Advisory Commission on

 1-3     Intergovernmental Relations.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding

 1-6     Chapter 741 to read as follows:

 1-7        CHAPTER 741.  TEXAS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL

 1-8                                  RELATIONS

 1-9           Sec. 741.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:

1-10                 (1)  "Commission" means  the Texas Advisory Commission

1-11     on Intergovernmental Relations.

1-12                 (2)  "Local government" means a political subdivision

1-13     of this state or a combination of political subdivisions of this

1-14     state.

1-15           Sec. 741.002. ESTABLISHMENT.   The Texas Advisory Commission

1-16     on Intergovernmental Relations is established as an agency of the

1-17     state.

1-18           Sec. 741.003. PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS.  (a) The purpose of the

1-19     commission is to strengthen and improve relationships between the

1-20     state and local governments and to enhance cooperation among local

1-21     governments.

1-22           (b)  The commission shall:

1-23                 (1)  provide a forum for discussion of

1-24     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 commission

 2-8     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     appointed by the speaker of the house.

2-25           (b)  Service on the commission by a public official is an

2-26     additional function of the official in an advisory capacity and

2-27     does not constitute the holding of a public office.

 3-1           (c)  A member of the commission serves a two-year term. The

 3-2     terms expire September 1 of each odd-numbered year.

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

 3-4     does not exist, the lieutenant governor or speaker, as applicable,

 3-5     may appoint any member of the appropriate house who serves on a

 3-6     committee with jurisdiction relating to local government.

 3-7           Sec. 741.005. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF COMMISSION.

 3-8     (a)  The members of the commission shall elect a presiding officer

 3-9     and a secretary. The officers are elected for a term of two years.

3-10           (b)  The commission shall hold at least one meeting every six

3-11     months and at other times that the presiding officer considers

3-12     necessary.

3-13           (c)  An agency of the state and any local government shall

3-14     make available to the commission any information or document not

3-15     confidential under law that is requested by the commission and

3-16     shall cooperate with the commission in carrying out its functions.

3-17           Sec. 741.006.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF. (a) The

3-18     University of Texas at Arlington School of Urban and Public Affairs

3-19     shall provide the commission with an executive director and other

3-20     staff necessary to carry out its powers and duties under this

3-21     chapter.

3-22           (b)  The dean of The University of Texas at Arlington School

3-23     of Urban and Public Affairs, in consultation with the commission,

3-24     shall appoint the executive director of the commission.

3-25           Sec. 741.007.  COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.   A member of the

3-26     commission may not receive a salary for service on the commission

3-27     but is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary

 4-1     expenses incurred in performing duties of the commission.

 4-2           Sec. 741.008. CONTRACTS.   The commission may apply for,

 4-3     receive, and expend any appropriation or grant from the state, a

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

 4-5     private source. Funds received under this section shall be managed

 4-6     by The University of Texas at Arlington School of Urban and Public

 4-7     Affairs and shall be maintained in the accounts of the university.

 4-8           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 4-9           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

4-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

4-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

4-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

4-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.