HBA-KDB H.B. 2147 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2147 By: Uher House Administration 3/4/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Legislature hosts two ceremonial days: "governor for a day," to honor a senator for his or her service to the state, and "speaker's reunion day," to honor former members of the house of representatives for their service to the state. House Bill 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 ceremonies to be placed in an account designed for the exclusive purpose of hosting these two days. 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 2147 amends the Government Code to increase the limit from $100 to $500 of the aggregate cash or value amount that a contributor can contribute to the speaker's reunion day ceremony. The bill requires that the outstanding balance for expenditures for governor for a day and speaker's reunion day ceremonies be placed in an account designed for the exclusive purpose of hosting the ceremonial days. The bill requires the account balance to be combined with contributions received for the succeeding governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremony, as appropriate, and authorizes that it only be spent for purposes reasonably related to conducting the governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremonies, including fund raising. The bill removes the provision that requires the outstanding balance be distributed by the chairman of the ceremony to one or more charities designated by the president pro tempore of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.