By Ellis S.B. No. 807 76R3464 JRD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to establishing a task force to identify ways to maximize 1-3 federal reimbursements to counties. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 783, Government Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Section 783.009 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 783.009. TASK FORCE ON FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS TO 1-8 COUNTIES. (a) The task force on federal reimbursements to 1-9 counties is established. 1-10 (b) The task force is composed of: 1-11 (1) the comptroller, who is the presiding officer of 1-12 the task force; 1-13 (2) a representative of each of the following state 1-14 agencies: 1-15 (A) the office of the attorney general; 1-16 (B) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission; 1-17 (C) the Texas Department of Health; 1-18 (D) the Health and Human Services Commission; 1-19 (E) the Texas Department of Human Services; 1-20 (F) the Texas Department of Mental Health and 1-21 Mental Retardation; 1-22 (G) the Department of Protective and Regulatory 1-23 Services; and 1-24 (H) the Texas Youth Commission; and 2-1 (3) twelve representatives of counties, of whom three 2-2 are appointed by the governor, three are appointed by the 2-3 lieutenant governor, three are appointed by the speaker of the 2-4 house of representatives, and three are appointed by the 2-5 comptroller. 2-6 (c) The task force shall identify problems that counties 2-7 have in seeking and receiving reimbursements from the federal 2-8 government. The task force shall study and recommend ways for 2-9 counties to: 2-10 (1) increase the reimbursements they receive from the 2-11 federal government, particularly ways to increase indirect cost 2-12 allocations; and 2-13 (2) improve the training that relevant county 2-14 employees receive in matters relating to seeking federal 2-15 reimbursements. 2-16 (d) State agencies and counties represented on the task 2-17 force may provide staff support to the task force. 2-18 (e) The task force shall meet at the call of the comptroller 2-19 or according to a schedule adopted by the task force. 2-20 (f) The task force shall report its findings and 2-21 recommendations to the governor and the presiding officer of each 2-22 house of the legislature not later than November 1, 2000. 2-23 (g) The task force is abolished and this section expires 2-24 February 1, 2001. 2-25 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-4 passage, and it is so enacted.