SRC-BWC H.B. 1872 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1872 77R5414 JMM-DBy: Solis, Jim (Carona) State Affairs 5/11/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to prepare, at the request of a state agency, a local employment impact statement (statement) for a proposed rule that may affect a local economy. TWC has assigned the task of preparing these statements to its Labor Market Information Department (LMI), which is federally funded for specific activities. Most statements are not burdensome; however, the rule changes that do result in a substantial employment impact cause LMI to expend federal funds for this purpose. In addition, LMI lacks the resources to perform a thorough analysis which can require the services of many professionals not employed by LMI such as engineers, environmental scientists, geologists, and health specialists. The agency proposing the rule change may be better equipped than TWC to analyze and describe such changes. H.B. 1872 requires the state agency proposing the rule to prepare a local impact statement on determining that a proposed rule may affect a local economy. 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 2001.022, Government Code, to require a state agency to determine whether a rule may affect a local economy before proposing the rule for adoption. Requires the agency, rather than the Texas Workforce Commission (commission), to prepare a local equipment impact statement for the proposed rule, if the state agency determines that a proposed rule may affect a local economy. Deletes text that required the agency, if the agency determines that a proposed rule may affect a local economy, to submit to the commission a copy of proposed rules not later than a certain date. Makes a conforming change. Deletes text that required a state agency to designate a liaison to furnish information. Deletes text that required the commission to deliver the local employment impact statement to a state agency by a certain date. Deletes text that required the impact statement to include certain information. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective.