SRC-TBR C.S.S.B. 1060 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1060
77R8783 TBy: Lindsay
Finance
4/3/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The legislature has acknowledged the need for agencies to respond to
changing priorities by allowing, through an Article IX rider, the transfer
of up to 25 percent of an agency's appropriations from one strategy to
another.  However, the statutory restrictions placed on the various fees
assessed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) do
not allow the agency to avail itself of the flexibility provided under the
appropriations transferability provisions.  As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1060
provides that the reallocation of funds would not be subject to the
statutory limitations on the uses of the funds by the TNRCC. 

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 Chapter 5, Water Code, by adding Section 5.707, as
follows: 

Section 5.707.  TRANSFERABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND FUNDS DERIVED FROM
FEES.  Provides that, notwithstanding, any law that provides specific
purposes for which a fund, account, or revenue source may be used and
expended by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission)
and that restricts the use of revenues and balances by the commission, the
commission may transfer a percentage of appropriations from one
appropriation item to another appropriation item consistent with the
General Appropriations Act for any biennium authorizing the commission to
transfer a percentage of appropriations from one appropriation item to
another appropriation item.  Provides that the use of funds in dedicated
accounts under this section for purposes in addition to those provided by
statutes restricting their use may not exceed seven percent of
appropriations to the commission in the General Appropriations Act for any
biennium.  Requires that a transfer of $500,000 or more from one
appropriation item to another appropriation item under this section to be
approved by the commission at an open meeting subject to Chapter 551 (Open
Meetings), Government Code. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends As Filed S.B. 1060 to provide more restrictions on the
transferability of appropriations from item to item in the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission budget.