SRC-DBM C.S.S.B. 472 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 472 By: Ratliff Finance 2/19/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, some agencies are expecting shortfalls and experiencing other funding difficulties. C.S.S.B. 472 makes an appropriation from existing, unappropriated state funds for the benefit of state agencies that will experience a shortfall prior to the end of fiscal year 1999 and for other purposes. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 472 makes emergency appropriations. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY: TEACHER TRAINING FOR THE SOCIAL PROMOTION INITIATIVE. Appropriates $18,840,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act to provide teacher training to assist Texas school children in developing reading skills. SECTION 2. DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE REGULATORY SERVICES: CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES DIVISION. Appropriates the sum of $8,876,750 consisting of $6,701,946 from the general revenue fund and $2,174,804 of federal funds from the appropriate federal funds matching source to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) for a two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act to provide child protective services. Provides that it is the intent of the legislature for the appropriations to be used to reduce the number of cases per worker and the number of workers per supervisor, to increase purchased services for families and children, and that expended salaries from the appropriation not exceed $1,344,481 per year in 1999. Estimates the amount of employee benefit cost for fiscal year 1999 to be $370,942 as authorized by House Bill 1, Chapter 1452, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the General Appropriations Act). Increases the DPRS full-time equivalent(FTE) employee limitation for fiscal year 1999 above the amount set by H.B. 1, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the General Appropriations Act) by 60 for the third quarter of fiscal year 1999. Increases the DPRS FTE limitation above the amount set by H.B.1, Chapter 1452, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the General Appropriations Act) by 220 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1999. SECTION 3. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. Appropriates $7,132,134 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M University System components for reimbursement of extraordinary expenses related to suppression of forest fires; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF: SALARIES. Appropriates $717,361 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School of the Deaf to pay for increased salary expenses; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 5. TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED: SALARIES. Appropriates $498,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to pay for increased salary expenses; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 6. TEXAS COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND: EDUCATION AND TREATMENT. Appropriates $724,518 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Commission for the Blind to pay for Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program costs and expenses; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. Provides that appropriated funds are from donations made as provided by Section 91.027(f), Human Resources Code. SECTION 7. STATE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT: WORKERS' COMPENSATION PAYMENTS. Appropriates $6,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the State Office of Risk Management to pay for workers' compensation benefits; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 8. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: CAPACITY. Appropriates $27,600,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to pay for additional prison capacity construction and additional temporary capacity contracts with counties; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 9. New Heading: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: DROUGHT RELIEF. Appropriates $25,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Agriculture to pay for costs and expenses related to providing drought relief; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 10. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION: LOCAL PROGRAM ASSISTANCE. (a) Appropriates $350,000 from the Advance Interest Trust Fund, Fund 935, to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to pay for extraordinary expenses associated with local program assistance only as provided by Subsection (b) of this section; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. (b) Authorizes the appropriation made under Subsection (a) of this section to be used by TWC to reimburse Strategy A.2.2. (Wage Assistance and Child Labor Protection) due to the termination of contracts for delivery of workforce services to five local workforce development boards, and subsequent actions by TWC to ensure continuation of local workforce services (including paying salaries and related costs for December 16-31, 1998, and contracted services). Requires the reduction of appropriation amounts received by TWC in settlement of claims arising out of the terminated contracts; requires the recovered funds to be used to repay Fund 935. SECTION 11. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM: TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE. Appropriates $874,648 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service to pay for the expansion of the Financial and Risk Management Assistance (FARM Assist) Program statewide; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 12. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: OYSTER TESTING. Appropriates $103,000 from the general revenue fund dedicated account number 5002, Oyster Sales, to the Texas Department of Health, no more than $10,000 of which may be used by Texas Department of Health to pay for collecting and delivering oyster and water samples to the Seafood Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston. Authorizes $93,000 of appropriated funds to be used by the Texas Department of Health only for entering into an agreement with Texas A&M University at Galveston for the testing of vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in Texas oysters and Texas bay waters; the funds are to be used for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 13. New Heading: EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS: CERTAIN TRANSFERS. Authorizes the chief administrative officer of the Employees Retirement System of Texas(ERS) to transfer from one appropriated item to another, funds appropriated by H. B. 1, Chapter 1452, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (General Appropriations Act), to institutions of higher education other than those institutions belonging to the University of Texas System or Texas A&M, for the purpose of applying appropriations in excess of actual general revenue group insurance premium costs at any of the institutions of higher education to appropriation shortfalls for general revenue group insurance premiums at any of the other institutions of higher education. Requires ERS to file a report that provides details regarding transfers made with the Legislative Budget Board, the Governor, and the Comptroller before November 1, 1999. SECTION 14. SOURCE FOR APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Provides that appropriations from the general revenue fund which are made by this Act are from non-tax revenue and prohibits interpretation as an increase in total appropriations from state sales tax revenue not dedicated by the Texas Constitution for the current biennium above the level, with authorized adjustments, as adopted by the Legislative Budget Board on November 20, 1996. (b) Reduces the contingency appropriation made by Rider 198, page IX-127, H. B. 1, Chapter 1452, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (Section 198, Contingency Appropriation: Enrollment Growth, Article IX, General Appropriations Act), by $18,840,000. SECTION 15.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Makes a nonsubstantive change. SECTION 2. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 9. Adds a new heading: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: DROUGHT RELIEF. Appropriates $25,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Agriculture to pay for costs and expenses related to providing drought relief, rather than eradication of cotton pests. SECTION 10. Appropriates $350,000 from the Advance Interest Trust Fund, Fund 935, to TWC (TWC) to pay for extraordinary expenses associated with local program assistance only, as provided by Subsection (b) of this section. Deletes text concerning reimbursement money. Authorizes the appropriation made under Subsection (a) of this section to be used by TWC to reimburse Strategy A.2.2. (Wage Assistance and Child Labor Protection) due to the termination of contracts for delivery of workforce services to five local workforce development boards, and subsequent actions by TWC, to ensure continuation of local workforce services (including paying salaries and related costs for December 16-31, 1998, and contracted services). Adds text concerning the reduction of appropriation amounts. Requires the reduction of appropriation amounts received by TWC, in settlement of claims arising out of the terminated contracts; requires the recovered funds to be used to repay Fund 935, rather than from any subsequent fund recoveries; authorizes such funds to be used to repay Fund 935. SECTION 12. Adds text concerning oyster testing fund appropriations. Appropriates $103,000 from the general revenue fund dedicated account number 5002, Oyster Sales, to the Texas Department of Health, $10,000 of which is to be used by the Texas Department of Health to pay for collecting and delivering oyster and water samples to the Seafood Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biology, and Texas A&M University at Galveston. Authorizes $93,000 of appropriated funds to be used by the Texas Department of Health only for entering into an agreement with Texas A&M University at Galveston for the testing of vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in Texas oysters and Texas bay waters, rather than as provided by Subsection (b). Deletes text concerning the Texas Department of Health entering into an agreement with Texas A&M University at Galveston. SECTION 13. Adds a new heading: EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS: CERTAIN TRANSFERS. Authorizes the chief administrative officer of the Employees Retirement System of Texas(ERS) to transfer from one appropriated item to another, funds appropriated by H. B. 1, Chapter 1452, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (General Appropriations Act) , to institutions of higher education other than those institutions belonging to the University of Texas System or Texas A&M, for the purpose of applying appropriations in excess of actual general revenue group insurance premium costs at any of the institutions of higher education to appropriation shortfalls for general revenue group insurance premiums at any of the other institutions of higher education. Requires the ERS to file a report that provides details regarding transfers made with the Legislative Budget Board, the Governor, and the Comptroller before November 1, 1999.