SRC-BWC H.B. 2147 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2147 77R8889 LJR-DBy: Uher (Cain) Administration 5/1/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Legislature hosts two ceremonial days: "governor for a day," to honor a senator for service to the state, and "speaker's reunion day," to honor former members of the house of representatives for service to the state. H.B. 2147 increases the amount of money that a contributor may contribute for the speaker's reunion day ceremony, and authorizes the outstanding balance of the expenditures for the two ceremonies to be either distributed to one or more charities or to be placed in an account designed for the exclusive purpose of hosting the ceremonial days. 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 303.003(c), Government Code, to prohibit contributions from a contributor to the speaker's reunion day ceremony from exceeding an aggregate of $500, rather than $100, cash or an aggregate value of more than $500. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Amends Section 303.005, Government Code, to require the chairman, if each obligation has been paid at the end of the 60-day period and there is an outstanding balance, to retain the balance in an account established for that purpose in the name of the office of the president pro tempore or speaker, as appropriate. Requires the account balance, if the outstanding balance is retained under this section, to be combined with contributions received for the succeeding governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremony, as appropriate, and authorizes the balance to be spent only for the purposes provided by Section 303.004. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.