SRC-CTC, SEW S.B. 1078 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1078
77R10566 DWS-DBy: Barrientos
State Affairs
3/23/2001
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Since 1991, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been
reviewed twice by the Sunset Advisory Commission, audited 15 times by the
State Auditor's Office (SAO), and involved in an additional 24 statewide
SAO reviews.  The most recent review of TxDOT was an extensive, $1 million
audit completed by the State Comptroller's Office in January 2001.
Legislation enacted by the 72nd Legislature requires TxDOT to carry out an
independent audit of its management and business operations, beginning in
the year 2001 and every 12 years thereafter.  The intent of the independent
audit and its timing is to facilitate sunset reviews of TxDOT and provide
additional insight into its operations.  S.B. 1078 changes the year in
which the initial audit must be performed and amends the time interval
between audits to re-align the independent audit with sunset review and
provide TxDOT some relief from having to undertake another audit
immediately following the comptroller's comprehensive performance review. 

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 Section 201.109(b), Transportation Code, to require the
Texas Transportation Commission (commission), in carrying out this section,
to provide for contracting for an independent audit of the Texas Department
of Transportation's management and business operations in 2007, rather than
2001, and each 6th year after 2007. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from the original by requiring the Texas Transportation Commission
to provide for contracting for an independent audit of the Texas Department
of Transportation's management and business operations each 6th year after
2007, rather than every 12th year.