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. 2-41 * * * * *