HBA-TBM, CCH H.B. 2065 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2065 By: Eiland Appropriations 7/3/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, it was not clear in statute whether the attorney general had the authority to appropriate settlement money for a specific purpose other than general revenue. House Bill 2065 directs all money that is awarded to the state in settlement to be certified by the comptroller of public accounts and deposited into the appropriate account. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2065 amends the Government Code to authorize the attorney general to certify to the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) and the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) that money awarded to the state to settle a claim is money to be credited to an account kept by the comptroller for a particular appropriation if it is not clear to which account the money should be credited under current law. The bill requires the comptroller to act in accordance with the certification received on the 31st day after its receipt or the day following the date the comptroller receives the written prior approval of the LBB to act in accordance with the certification. If before the 31st day after the comptroller receives the certification the comptroller receives from the LBB a certification that the money is to be credited to a different account for a particular appropriation or that the money should not be credited to any account for a particular appropriation, the comptroller is required to act in accordance with the LBB's certification. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.