1-1     By:  Harris, Ellis, Wentworth                          S.B. No. 937

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 4, 1997; March 10, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental

 1-4     Relations; April 1, 1997, reported favorably, as amended, by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; April 1, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6     COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1                             By:  Gallegos

 1-7     Amend S.B. No. 937 in SECTION 1 of the bill, Section 741.004,

 1-8     Government Code, by striking Subdivision (3) (page 1, lines 60 and

 1-9     61), and substituting the following:

1-10                 "(3)  a member of the House Committee on Urban Affairs

1-11     or the House Committee on County Affairs appointed by the speaker

1-12     of the house."

1-13                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

1-14                                   AN ACT

1-15     relating to the creation of the Texas Advisory Commission on

1-16     Intergovernmental Relations.

1-17           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-18           SECTION 1.  Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding

1-19     Chapter 741 to read as follows:

1-20        CHAPTER 741.  TEXAS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL

1-21                                  RELATIONS

1-22           Sec. 741.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:

1-23                 (1)  "Commission" means  the Texas Advisory Commission

1-24     on Intergovernmental Relations.

1-25                 (2)  "Local government" means a political subdivision

1-26     of this state or a combination of political subdivisions of this

1-27     state.

1-28           Sec. 741.002.  ESTABLISHMENT.  The Texas Advisory Commission

1-29     on Intergovernmental Relations is established as an agency of the

1-30     state.

1-31           Sec. 741.003.  PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS.  (a)  The purpose of

1-32     the commission is to strengthen and improve relationships between

1-33     the state and local governments and to enhance cooperation among

1-34     local governments.

1-35           (b)  The commission shall:

1-36                 (1)  provide a forum for discussion of

1-37     intergovernmental issues;

1-38                 (2)  conduct and coordinate research on

1-39     intergovernmental issues;

1-40                 (3)  collect and distribute information on

1-41     intergovernmental issues; and

1-42                 (4)  publish and distribute research and conference

1-43     reports.

1-44           Sec. 741.004.  COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.  (a)  The

1-45     commission is composed of:

1-46                 (1)  seven members appointed by the governor as

1-47     follows:

1-48                       (A)  a member of the governor's office;

1-49                       (B)  a member from the Office of State-Federal

1-50     Relations; and

1-51                       (C)  a representative of an association of:

1-52                             (i)  county governments;

1-53                             (ii)  municipal governments;

1-54                             (iii)  public school districts;

1-55                             (iv)  junior college districts; and

1-56                             (v)  regional councils of government;

1-57                 (2)  a member of the Senate Committee on

1-58     Intergovernmental Relations appointed by the lieutenant governor;

1-59     and

1-60                 (3)  a member of the House Committee on Urban Affairs

1-61     appointed by the speaker of the house.

1-62           (b)  Service on the commission by a public official is an

1-63     additional function of the official in an advisory capacity and

1-64     does not constitute the holding of a public office.

 2-1           (c)  A member of the commission serves a two-year term.  The

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

 2-3           (d)  If a house or senate committee specified by this section

 2-4     does not exist, the lieutenant governor or speaker, as applicable,

 2-5     may appoint any member of the appropriate house who serves on a

 2-6     committee with jurisdiction relating to local government.

 2-7           Sec. 741.005.  ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF COMMISSION.

 2-8     (a)  The members of the commission shall elect a presiding officer

 2-9     and a secretary.  The officers are elected for a term of two years.

2-10           (b)  The commission shall hold at least one meeting every six

2-11     months and at other times that the presiding officer considers

2-12     necessary.

2-13           (c)  An agency of the state and any local government shall

2-14     make available to the commission any information or document not

2-15     confidential under law that is requested by the commission and

2-16     shall cooperate with the commission in carrying out its functions.

2-17           Sec. 741.006.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.  (a)  The

2-18     University of Texas at Arlington School of Urban and Public Affairs

2-19     shall provide the commission with an executive director and other

2-20     staff necessary to carry out its powers and duties under this

2-21     chapter.

2-22           (b)  The dean of The University of Texas at Arlington School

2-23     of Urban and Public Affairs, in consultation with the commission,

2-24     shall appoint the executive director of the commission.

2-25           Sec. 741.007.  COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.  A member of the

2-26     commission may not receive a salary for service on the commission

2-27     but is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary

2-28     expenses incurred in performing duties of the commission.

2-29           Sec. 741.008.  CONTRACTS.  The commission may apply for,

2-30     receive, and expend any appropriation or grant from the state, a

2-31     local government, the federal government, or any other public or

2-32     private source.  Funds received under this section shall be managed

2-33     by The University of Texas at Arlington School of Urban and Public

2-34     Affairs and shall be maintained in the accounts of the university.

2-35           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-36           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-37     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-38     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-39     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-40     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

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