AN ACT
1-1 relating to making emergency general appropriations.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY: TEACHER TRAINING FOR
1-4 IMPROVED READING SKILLS. In addition to amounts previously
1-5 appropriated for the current fiscal biennium, the sum of
1-6 $18,840,000 is appropriated from the general revenue fund to the
1-7 Texas Education Agency for the two-year period beginning on the
1-8 effective date of this Act for the purpose of providing teacher
1-9 training to assist the schoolchildren of this state in developing
1-10 reading skills.
1-11 SECTION 2. DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES:
1-12 CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES DIVISION. (a) In addition to amounts
1-13 previously appropriated for the current fiscal biennium, the sum of
1-14 $8,971,763, consisting of $2,819,220 from the general revenue fund
1-15 and $6,152,543 of federal funds from the appropriate federal
1-16 matching fund source, is appropriated to the Department of
1-17 Protective and Regulatory Services for the two-year period
1-18 beginning on the effective date of this Act for the purpose of
1-19 providing child protective services. It is the intent of the
1-20 legislature that the appropriations made by this section be used to
1-21 reduce the number of cases per worker, reduce the number of workers
1-22 per supervisor, and increase purchased services for families and
1-23 children.
1-24 (b) It is the intent of the legislature that the amount of
2-1 salaries expended from the appropriation made by this section not
2-2 exceed $1,344,517 in fiscal year 1999.
2-3 (c) The amount of employee benefit cost for fiscal year 1999
2-4 associated with the appropriation made by this section is estimated
2-5 to be $370,952 for fiscal year 1999. The expenditure of employee
2-6 benefit cost for fiscal year 1999 is authorized in House Bill No.
2-7 1, Chapter 1452, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
2-8 1997 (the General Appropriations Act).
2-9 (d) The full-time equivalent employee limitation for the
2-10 Department of Protective and Regulatory Services for fiscal year
2-11 1999 is increased above the amount set by House Bill No. 1, Chapter
2-12 1452, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the
2-13 General Appropriations Act), by 60 for the third quarter of fiscal
2-14 year 1999.
2-15 (e) The full-time equivalent employee limitation for the
2-16 Department of Protective and Regulatory Services for fiscal year
2-17 1999 is increased above the amount set by House Bill No. 1, Chapter
2-18 1452, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the
2-19 General Appropriations Act), by 220 for the fourth quarter of
2-20 fiscal year 1999.
2-21 (f) It is the intent of the legislature that the
2-22 appropriations made to the Department of Protective and Regulatory
2-23 Services be used to make a cash purchase of approximately $471,450
2-24 of computer equipment to be used by the additional employees
2-25 authorized to be employed by this section.
2-26 (g) Any restriction under House Bill No. 1, Chapter 1452,
3-1 Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the General
3-2 Appropriations Act), that requires the Department of Protective and
3-3 Regulatory Services to use a Lease Payments to the Master Lease
3-4 Purchase Program (MLPP) for capital budget purposes is repealed.
3-5 SECTION 3. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. In addition to
3-6 amounts previously appropriated for the current fiscal biennium,
3-7 the sum of $7,132,134 is appropriated from the general revenue fund
3-8 to The Texas A&M University System for the use by its components
3-9 for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act
3-10 for the purpose of reimbursing extraordinary expenses related to
3-11 the suppression of forest fires.
3-12 SECTION 4. TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF: SALARIES. In
3-13 addition to amounts previously appropriated for the current fiscal
3-14 biennium, the sum of $717,361 is appropriated from the general
3-15 revenue fund to the Texas School for the Deaf for the two-year
3-16 period beginning on the effective date of this Act for the purpose
3-17 of payment of cost and expenses resulting from increased salary
3-18 expenses.
3-19 SECTION 5. TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED:
3-20 SALARIES. In addition to amounts previously appropriated for the
3-21 current fiscal biennium, the sum of $498,000 is appropriated from
3-22 the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Blind and
3-23 Visually Impaired for the two-year period beginning on the
3-24 effective date of this Act for the purpose of payment of cost and
3-25 expenses resulting from increased salary expenses.
3-26 SECTION 6. TEXAS COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND: EDUCATION AND
4-1 TREATMENT. In addition to amounts previously appropriated for the
4-2 current fiscal biennium, the sum of $724,518 is appropriated from
4-3 the general revenue fund to the Texas Commission for the Blind for
4-4 the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act for
4-5 the purpose of payment of costs and expenses related to the
4-6 Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program. Funds
4-7 appropriated under this section are from donations made as provided
4-8 by Section 91.027, Human Resources Code.
4-9 SECTION 7. STATE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT: WORKERS'
4-10 COMPENSATION PAYMENTS. In addition to amounts previously
4-11 appropriated for the current fiscal biennium, the sum of $6,000,000
4-12 is appropriated from the general revenue fund to the State Office
4-13 of Risk Management for the two-year period beginning on the
4-14 effective date of this Act for the purpose of payment of workers'
4-15 compensation benefits.
4-16 SECTION 8. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: CAPACITY.
4-17 In addition to amounts previously appropriated for the current
4-18 fiscal biennium, the sum of $27,600,000 is appropriated from the
4-19 general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
4-20 for the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act
4-21 for the purpose of providing for expenditures relating to
4-22 additionally constructed prison capacity and contracts with
4-23 counties for additional temporary capacity.
4-24 SECTION 9. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: DROUGHT RELIEF. In
4-25 addition to amounts previously appropriated for the current fiscal
4-26 biennium, the sum of $25,000,000 is appropriated from the general
5-1 revenue fund to the Department of Agriculture for the two-year
5-2 period beginning on the effective date of this Act for the purpose
5-3 of payment of costs and expenses related to providing drought
5-4 relief.
5-5 SECTION 10. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION: LOCAL PROGRAM
5-6 ASSISTANCE. (a) In addition to amounts previously appropriated
5-7 for the current fiscal biennium, the sum of $350,000 is
5-8 appropriated from the Advance Interest Trust Fund, Fund 935, to the
5-9 Texas Workforce Commission for the two-year period beginning on the
5-10 effective date of this Act for the purpose of payment of
5-11 extraordinary expenses associated with local program assistance
5-12 only as provided by Subsection (b) of this section.
5-13 (b) Due to the termination of contracts for delivery of
5-14 workforce services to five local workforce development boards and
5-15 the subsequent actions by the Texas Workforce Commission to ensure
5-16 continuation of local workforce services, including paying salaries
5-17 and related costs for December 16-31, 1998, and contracted
5-18 services, the appropriation made under Subsection (a) of this
5-19 section may be used by the Texas Workforce Commission to reimburse
5-20 Strategy A.2.2. (Wage Assistance and Child Labor Protection). The
5-21 appropriation made by this section shall be reduced for amounts
5-22 received by the Texas Workforce Commission in settlement of claims
5-23 arising out of the terminated contracts. Funds recovered shall be
5-24 utilized to repay Fund 935.
5-25 SECTION 11. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM: TEXAS
5-26 AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE. In addition to amounts previously
6-1 appropriated for the current fiscal biennium, the sum of $874,648
6-2 is appropriated from the general revenue fund to the Texas
6-3 Agricultural Extension Service for the two-year period beginning on
6-4 the effective date of this Act for the purpose of expanding the
6-5 Financial and Risk Management Assistance (FARM Assist) program
6-6 statewide.
6-7 SECTION 12. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: OYSTER TESTING. In
6-8 addition to amounts previously appropriated for the current fiscal
6-9 biennium, the sum of $103,000 is appropriated from the general
6-10 revenue fund dedicated account number 5022, Oyster Sales, to the
6-11 Texas Department of Health for the two-year period beginning on the
6-12 effective date of this Act. No more than $10,000 of the total
6-13 appropriation made by this section may be used by the Texas
6-14 Department of Health for the purpose of collecting and delivering
6-15 oyster and water samples to the Seafood Microbiology Laboratory,
6-16 Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston.
6-17 Ninety-three thousand dollars of the funds appropriated by this
6-18 section may be used by the Texas Department of Health only for the
6-19 purpose of entering into an agreement with Texas A&M University at
6-20 Galveston for the testing of vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in
6-21 Texas oysters and Texas bay waters.
6-22 SECTION 13. EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS: CERTAIN
6-23 TRANSFERS. Funds appropriated by House Bill No. 1, Chapter 1452,
6-24 Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (the General
6-25 Appropriations Act), to institutions of higher education, other
6-26 than those institutions belonging to The University of Texas System
7-1 or The Texas A&M University System, may be transferred from one
7-2 appropriation item to another at the discretion of the chief
7-3 administrative officer of the Employees Retirement System of Texas
7-4 for the purpose of applying appropriations in excess of actual
7-5 general revenue group insurance premium costs at any of the
7-6 institutions of higher education to appropriation shortfalls for
7-7 general revenue group insurance premiums at any of the other
7-8 institutions of higher education. The Employees Retirement System
7-9 of Texas shall file a report that provides details regarding the
7-10 transfers made under authority of this section with the Legislative
7-11 Budget Board, the governor, and the comptroller before November 1,
7-12 1999.
7-13 SECTION 14. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES: YEAR 2000.
7-14 In addition to amounts previously appropriated for the current
7-15 fiscal biennium, the sum of $152,600 is appropriated from the
7-16 general revenue fund to the Department of Information Resources for
7-17 the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act for
7-18 the purpose of:
7-19 (1) implementing a plan to create an Internet website
7-20 to address Year 2000 computer problems; and
7-21 (2) establishing a toll free telephone system for
7-22 reporting Year 2000 computer problems.
7-23 SECTION 15. DISASTER RELIEF. In addition to amounts
7-24 previously appropriated to the governor's office for the current
7-25 fiscal biennium, the sum of $13,600,000 is hereby appropriated from
7-26 the general revenue fund for transfer to the Disaster Contingency
8-1 Fund No. 453, and such sum is hereby appropriated from the fund for
8-2 the two-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act for
8-3 purposes as determined by the Disaster Emergency Funding Board
8-4 under Chapter 418, Government Code.
8-5 SECTION 16. SOURCE FOR APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The
8-6 appropriations from the general revenue fund made by this Act are
8-7 from nontax revenue and may not be construed so as to increase
8-8 total appropriations from state tax revenue not dedicated by the
8-9 Texas Constitution for the current biennium above the level, with
8-10 authorized adjustments, as adopted by the Legislative Budget Board
8-11 on November 20, 1996.
8-12 (b) The contingency appropriation made by Rider 198, page
8-13 IX-127, House Bill No. 1, Chapter 1452, Acts of the 75th
8-14 Legislature, Regular Session, 1997 (Section 198, Contingency
8-15 Appropriation: Enrollment Growth, Article IX, General
8-16 Appropriations Act), is reduced by $18,840,000.
8-17 SECTION 17. LIMITATIONS. It is the intent of the
8-18 legislature that to the extent feasible the appropriations made by
8-19 this Act shall be subject to the restrictions provided by House
8-20 Bill No. 1, Chapter 1452, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular
8-21 Session, 1997 (General Appropriations Act).
8-22 SECTION 18. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
8-23 immediately as provided for a General Appropriations Act under
8-24 Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
8-25 SECTION 19. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
8-26 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
S.B. No. 472
9-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
9-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
9-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
9-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
9-5 passage, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 472 passed the Senate on
February 24, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and
that the Senate concurred in House amendments on March 15, 1999, by
the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; passed subject to the
provisions of Article III, Section 49a, of the Constitution of
Texas.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 472 passed the House, with
amendments, on March 11, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 143,
Nays 0, one present not voting; passed subject to the provisions of
Article III, Section 49a, of the Constitution of Texas.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
I, Carole Keeton Rylander,
Comptroller of Public Accounts,
_______________________________ do hereby certify that the
Governor amounts appropriated in the
herein S.B. No. 472, Regular
Session, 76th Legislature, are
within the amount estimated to
be available in the affected
fund.
Certified ______________, 1999.
_______________________________
Comptroller of Public Accounts