SRC-BWC S.B. 656 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 656 77R1435 MCK-DBy: West, Royce Administration 2/28/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. It had a population of nearly 21 million in 2000 and its rate of growth has exceeded that for the nation as a whole since the first census in 1850. Texas is also a diverse state geographically, economically, and in terms of the racial/ethnic characteristics of its people. Determining the size and distribution, the characteristics, and the implications of Texas population change for private and public-sector service demand and for the socioeconomic characteristics of Texas is of clear importance for Texas government as it plans for the state's future. As proposed, S.B. 656 creates the Office of the Texas State Demographer and the position of State Demographer in order to ensure the continuation of effective demographic and related socioeconomic analyses for the State of Texas. 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 Title 4E, Government Code, by adding Chapter 468, as follows: CHAPTER 468. STATE DEMOGRAPHER Sec. 468.001. DEFINITION. Defines "state agency." Sec. 468.002. DESIGNATION OF STATE DEMOGRAPHER. Requires the lieutenant governor to designate an employee or officer of a state agency as the state demographer, who is required to meet certain requirements in order to be eligible. Sec. 468.003. PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES. Requires the state agency that employs the person designated as the state demographer to provide the staff and main office. Requires the Texas Legislative Council to provide office space and other support in Austin necessary for the state demographer to perform duties for the legislature. Sec. 468.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. Requires the state demographer to provide certain information, and requires the demographer to 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. SECTION 2. Transfers Section 88.214, Education Code, to Chapter 468, Government Code, redesignates it as Section 468.005, Government Code, and amends as follows: Sec. 468.005. ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF THE CENSUS FEDERAL-STATE COOPERATIVE. Requires the state agency, rather than the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, that employs the state demographer to serve as the official cognizant administrator for the State of Texas of the United States Bureau of the Census federal-state cooperative programs for population estimates and projections, and as the coordinating agency for the State Data Center program. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.