SRC-TBR H.B. 1161 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1161
77R2194 SMJ-DBy: Eiland (Moncrief)
Business & Commerce
5/6/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Business Enterprises Program (BEP) is a federally funded,
state-administered program that provides opportunities for blind and
visually impaired individuals to operate food services and other BEP
selected businesses in public and private facilities.  The 76th Legislature
established a trust fund in the state treasury for the BEP retirement
program.  Currently, the BEP retirement fund only grows at a rate of about
5 percent each year.  If, however, a professional management service
managed the retirement fund, it could increase the fund's profits.  H.B.
1161 authorizes the Texas Commission for the Blind to contract with a
professional management service to manage the BEP trust fund. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 94.016, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (f), to authorize the Texas Commission for the Blind
(commission) to contract with a professional management service to
administer the operations of the Business Enterprises Program trust fund. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.