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.