SRC-JBJ S.B. 648 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 648 77R4030 MTB-FBy: Lucio State Affairs 2/20/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), established by the 72nd Legislature to combat economic automobile theft, has three advisory committees established by rule to assist in its mission. Recent attorney general opinions, however, have called into question whether ATPA has the necessary statutory authority to have established these committees. As proposed, S.B. 648 provides the ATPA board with explicit statutory authority to establish advisory committees and allows ATPA to reimburse its board members for expenses incurred while performing official duties. 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 Article 4413(37), V.T.C.S., by adding Section 12, as follows: Sec. 12. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) Authorizes the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (authority) to establish advisory committees to advise it on any matter under the jurisdiction of the authority. (b) Provides that Section 2110.008 (Duration of Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to an advisory committee established under this section if the advisory committee meets certain specific criteria. (c) Prohibits a member of an advisory committee from being compensated by the authority for committee service but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of committee service. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.