HBA-BSM S.B. 656 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 656
By: West, Royce
State Affairs
4/29/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation.  The 2000 federal
census determined that Texas has a population of approximately 21 million.
Additionally, Texas is a diverse state geographically, economially, and in
terms of the racial and ethnic characteristics of its people.  Determining
the size and distribution, the characteristics, and the implications of
Texas' population change is of clear importance for Texas government as it
plans for the future of the state.  Senate Bill 656 creates the position of
state demographer. 

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

Senate Bill 656 amends the Government and Education codes relating to the
designation and functions of a state demographer.  This bill requires the
governor to appoint an employee or officer of a state agency as the state
demographer from a list submitted by the speaker of the house of
representatives and the lieutenant governor.  The list must be submitted as
soon as possible after the effective date of this Act.  A person is
ineligible for this position unless they have a graduate degree with
specialization in demography or a closely related field of study and
extensive experience in employing demographic and related socioeconomic
data for use by legislative, public, and private entities.  The bill
requires the agency employing the state demographer to provide staff
necessary for the state demographer to perform the demographer's duties,
and to also provide the main office for the state demographer.  The bill
requires the Texas Legislative Council to provide office space and other
support in Austin necessary for the state demographer to perform the
demographer's duties for the legislature. 

The bill also requires the state demographer to:

 _disseminate demographic and related socioeconomic data to the public; 
 
 _provide annual population estimates for all counties and municipalities
in the state; 
 
 _provide biennial population projections for the state and all counties of
the state; 
 
 _provide information to the legislature relating to the impact that
demographic and socioeconomic changes in the population of the state have
on the demand for state services; and 
 
 _evaluate the type and quality of data needed to adequately monitor
demographic and socioeconomic changes in the population of the state, and
assess the effectiveness of delivery of state services. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.