SRC-TJG C.S.S.B. 22 78(1)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 22
78S10470 MTB-FBy: Ellis, Rodney
Government Organization
7/21/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

C.S.S.B. 22 relates to the organization, board membership, and functions
of certain state agencies and to the transfer of certain functions to
other state agencies.  This bill also provides penalties for certain
actions. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Subset Advisory Commission
is transferred to the Performance Review Commission in SECTION 7.04 of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

PART 1.  CREATION OF LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SERVICES BOARD; ABOLITION OF
TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND TRANSFER OF ITS FUNCTIONS 
 
SECTION 1.01.  Amends Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, by adding
Chapter 327, as follows: 

CHAPTER 327.  LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SERVICES BOARD
 
 Sec. 327.001.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "board" and "director."
 
 Sec. 327.002.  CREATION.  Provides that the Legislative Information
Services Board  (board) is an agency of the legislative branch of state
government. 
 
 Sec. 327.003.  LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SERVICES BOARD.  (a)  Provides
that  the board consists of certain persons. 
  
(b)  Provides that the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives serve alternate terms as the chairman and vice chairman of
the board.  Provides that the terms are for two years and expire on
February 1 of each odd-numbered year. 
 
(c)  Provides that members of the board serve without compensation but are
entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in
attending meetings and performing official functions. 
 
(d)  Provides that actual and necessary expenses are paid from funds
appropriated to the board. 
 
 Sec. 327.004.  DIRECTOR.  (a)  Requires the board to appoint a director
to serve at the  pleasure of the board. 
 
 (b)  Requires the board to set the salary of the director.
 
 Sec. 327.005.  PERSONNEL.  (a)  Authorizes the director, with the
approval of the  board, to employ professional and clerical personnel. 
 
 (b)  Requires the board to set the salaries of the personnel employed by
the director. 

 Sec. 327.006.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  (a)  Authorizes the board to accept
gifts, grants,  and donations from any organization described in Section
501(c)(3), Internal Revenue  Code of 1986, for the purposes of funding any
activity under this chapter. 
 
(b)  Requires all gifts, grants, and donations to be accepted in an open
meeting by a majority of the voting members of the board and reported in
the public record of the board with the name of the donor and purpose of
the gift, grant, or donation. 
 
Sec. 327.007.  DUTIES.  Requires the board to provide certain computer
support services to the legislative branch of state government. 

Sec. 327.008.  ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION THROUGH
THE INTERNET.  (a)  Defines "Internet" and "legislative information."  
 
(b)  Authorizes the board, to the extent it considers it to be feasible
and appropriate, to make legislative information available to the public
through the Internet. 
 
(c)  Authorizes the board to make available to the public through the
Internet any documentation that describes the electronic digital formats
of legislative information. 
 
(d)  Provides that the access to legislative information provided for
under this section is in addition to the public's access to the
information through other electronic or print distribution of the
information, does not alter, diminish, or relinquish any copyright or
other proprietary interest or entitlement of the State of Texas or a
private entity under contract with the state, and is subject to Section
327.009. 
 
Sec. 327.009.  COMPUTER ACCESS, INFORMATION, AND USE.  (a)  Requires the
board to consider each application for direct access to a computer under
its control in which confidential information is stored or processed or
that is connected with another computer in which confidential information
is stored or processed and solely to determine whether or not to permit
direct access by the applicant.  Prohibits direct access to such a
computer from being permitted unless protection of confidential
information is ensured. 
 
(b)  Provides that if public information of the board is stored in a
computerreadable form, the board has exclusive authority to determine the
form in which the information will be reproduced for the requestor of the
information. 
 
(c)  Provides that notwithstanding Subchapter F, Chapter 552, the board
has exclusive authority to determine the charge for direct access to a
computer under its control and the charge for information reproduced for a
requestor. 
 
(d)  Authorizes the board to consider the needs of persons with
disabilities when making decisions regarding the formats in which
information is made available under this chapter. 
 
Sec. 327.010.  COMPUTER SECURITY; PENALTY.  (a)  Provides that a person
commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly gains access
to information stored or maintained by a computer under the control of the
board and the person is not authorized by the board to have access to that
information. 
 
(b)  Provides that a person commits an offense if the person
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly damages, destroys, deletes, or
alters or impairs access to or use of information stored or maintained by
a computer under the control of the  board and the person is not
authorized by the board to do so. 
 
(c)  Provides that Subsection (b) does not apply to an interruption of
utility service or other service that causes the damage, destruction,
deletion, or alteration of or impairment of access to or use of the
information unless the interruption was intended to have that result. 
 
  (d)  Provides that an offense under this section is a Class A
misdemeanor. 

SECTION 1.02.  Repealer: Section 276.008 (Information Provided to Texas
Legislative Council), Election Code; Chapter 323 (Texas Legislative
Council), Government Code; Section 2053.004 (Legislation), Government
Code; and Section 6.14  (Information Provided to Texas Legislative
Council), Tax Code. 

PART 2.  TRANSFER OF FINANCIAL AUDIT FUNCTIONS FROM STATE AUDITOR TO
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD 

SECTION 2.01.  Amends Chapter 322, Government Code, by adding Section
322.002, as follows: 
 
 Sec. 322.002.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "board" and "department."

SECTION 2.02.  Amends Chapter 322, Government Code, by adding Sections
322.0155 through 322.026, as follows: 
 
Sec. 322.0155.  FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE AUDITS:  POWERS AND DUTIES.  (a)
Requires the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to conduct financial audits of
all departments, including institutions of higher education, as specified
in the audit plan required under Subsection (c).  Authorizes LBB to
conduct an audit or investigation of any entity receiving funds from the
state. 
 
(b)  Requires LBB to conduct the audits in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards as prescribed by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board,
the United States General Accounting Office, or other professionally
recognized entities that prescribe auditing standards. 
 
(c)  Requires LBB to devise an audit plan for the state for each fiscal
year. Requires LBB, in the plan, to consider recommendations concerning
coordination of agency functions made by representatives of the
Performance Review Commission.  Requires LBB to also consider the extent
to which a department has received a significant increase in
appropriations, including a significant increase in federal or other money
passed through to the department, and shall review procurement activities
for compliance with Section 2161.123.  Requires the plan to provide for
the auditing of federal programs at least once in each fiscal biennium and
to ensure that audit requirements of all bond covenants and other credit
or financial agreements are satisfied. 
 
(d)  Authorizes LBB, at any time during an audit or investigation, to
require the assistance of the administrative head, official, auditor,
accountant, or other employees of the entity being audited or
investigated. 
 
(e)  Provides that LBB is entitled to access to all of the books,
accounts, confidential or unconfidential reports, vouchers, or other
records of information in any department or entity subject to audit,
including access to all electronic data. 
 
(f)  Provides that LBB has access to information and data the release of
which is restricted under federal law only with the approval of the
appropriate federal administrative agency.  Requires LBB to have access to
copyrighted or restricted  information obtained by the office of the
comptroller under subscription agreements and used in the preparation of
economic estimates only for audit purposes. 
 
(g)  Authorizes LBB to conduct compliance and financial audits as defined
by Sections 322.016 and 322.017 and specified in the audit plan. 
 
(h)  Requires LBB, to the extent that the performance of the powers and
duties of the board under law is not impeded, to make reasonable efforts
to coordinate requests for employee assistance under Subsection (d) or
requests for access to books, accounts, vouchers, records, or data under
Subsection (e) or (f) so as not to hinder the daily operations of the
audited entity. 
 
(i)  Prohibits LBB from conducting audits of private entities concerning
collection or remittance of taxes or fees to the state if the entity is
subject to audit by another state agency for the taxes or fees. 
 
(j) Requires LBB, if the board determines that a change in an accounting
system is necessary, to consider the present system of books, records,
accounts, and reports to ensure that the transition will be gradual and
that the past and present records will be coordinated into the new system. 
 
Sec. 322.016.  COMPLIANCE AUDIT.  Provides that a compliance audit is an
audit to determine certain information. 
   
Sec. 322.017.  FINANCIAL AUDIT.  Provides that a financial audit is an
audit to determine certain information. 
 
Sec. 322.018.  FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE AUDIT REPORTS.  (a)  Requires LBB
to prepare a written report for each financial or compliance audit it
conducts. 
 
(b)  Requires the written report to include a management letter with
comments about internal controls, compliance with state or federal laws,
and recommendations for improving operations or program effectiveness, as
applicable.  Requires the report to also include an opinion on fair
presentation of financial statements if the board considers an opinion to
be necessary. 
 
(c)  Requires LBB to file a copy of each report prepared under this
section with certain persons. 
   
(d)  Requires LBB to maintain a complete file containing copies of each
audit report and audit work papers and other evidence relating to its
work. 
 
(e)  Requires LBB to maintain the file required by Subsection (d) for at
least eight years after the date on which the information is filed. 
 
(f)  Requires each audited department or entity to report on the manner in
which the department or entity addressed the findings and recommendations
that are included in a report prepared by the board under this section.
Requires LBB to prescribe the form and schedule for a report by the
department or entity under this subsection. 
 
(g)  Requires the department or entity, if a department or entity does not
implement a change recommended by the LBB's report, to file a report with
the persons specified by Subsection (c).  Requires the report to identify
the recommendation the department or entity did not implement and state
the reason the department or entity did not implement the recommendation. 
 
Sec. 322.019.  IMPROPER PRACTICES AND ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS.  (a)  Requires
LBB, if in the course of an audit it finds evidence of improper practices
of financial administration, inadequate fiscal records, or uneconomical
use of resources after consulting with the head of the department being
audited, to immediately report the evidence to the governor and to the
administrative head and the chairman of the governing body of the affected
department. 
 
(b)  Requires LBB, if in the course of an audit it finds evidence of an
illegal transaction, to immediately report the transaction to the governor
and the appropriate legal authority, after consulting with the head of the
department. 
 
(c)  Provides that  LBB, immediately after receiving a report alleging
improper practices of financial administration or uneconomical use of
resources, shall review the report and shall consult with and may hold
hearings with the administrative head and the chairman of the governing
body of the affected department regarding the report. 
 
(d)  Requires LBB, if the administrative head or the governing body of the
affected department refuses to make the changes recommended by the board
at a hearing under Subsection (c) or refuses to provide any additional
information or reports requested, to report the refusal to the
legislature. 
 
Sec. 322.020.  REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVING COURT
COSTS.  (a)  Authorizes LBB to review each fund and account into which
money collected as a court cost is directed by law to be deposited to
determine whether the money is being used for the purpose for which the
money is collected and the amount of the court cost is appropriate,
considering the purpose for which the cost is collected. 
 
(b)  Authorizes LBB to perform reviews under this section as specified in
the audit plan developed under Section 322.015. 
 
(c)  Requires LBB to make the findings of a review performed under this
section available to the public and report the findings to the governor,
the chief justice of the supreme court, and the presiding judge of the
court of criminal appeals. Authorizes the report to include LBB's
recommendations for legislation or policy changes. 
 
Sec. 322.021.  SUBPOENAS.  (a)  Authorizes LBB to subpoena witnesses or
any books, records, or other documents reasonably necessary to conduct an
examination under this chapter. 
 
(b)  Requires each subpoena to be signed by the chairman or the secretary
of the LBB. 
 
(c)  Requires the sergeant at arms or an assistant sergeant at arms of
either house of the legislature or any peace officer to serve the subpoena
in the manner prescribed for service of a district court subpoena, on the
request of the chairman or the secretary of the LBB. 
 
(d)  Authorizes LBB, if the person to whom a subpoena is directed fails to
comply, to bring suit in district court to enforce the subpoena.  Requires
the court, if the court determines that good cause exists for the issuance
of the subpoena, to order compliance.  Authorizes the court to modify the
requirements of a subpoena that the court determines are unreasonable.
Provides that failure to comply with the order of the district court is
punishable as contempt. 
 
(e)  Authorizes LBB to provide for the compensation of subpoenaed
witnesses. Prohibits the amount of compensation from exceeding the amount
paid to a witness subpoenaed by a district court in a civil proceeding. 
  
Sec. 322.022.  INTERFERENCE WITH AUDIT OR INVESTIGATION.  (a)  Provides
that an officer or employee of this state or of an entity subject to audit
or investigation by LBB commits an offense if the officer or employee
takes certain actions. 
  
  (b)  Provides that an offense under this section is a Class A
misdemeanor. 
 
Sec. 322.023.  COORDINATION OF CERTAIN AUDITS.  (a)  Authorizes a state
agency, or a corporation that is dedicated to the benefit of a state
agency and that meets the criteria specified by Section B, Article 2.23B,
Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article 1396-2.23B, Vernon's Texas Civil
Statutes), notwithstanding any other law, to employ a private auditor to
audit the state agency or corporation only if certain conditions apply. 

(b)  Requires LBB, at the joint direction of the lieutenant governor and
the speaker of the house of representatives, to provide contract
management services to the agency or corporation for an audit described by
this section. 
 
Sec. 322.024.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  (a)  Authorizes LBB to accept gifts,
grants, and donations from any organization described in Section
501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for the purpose of funding any
activity under this chapter. 
 
(b)  Requires all gifts, grants, and donations to be accepted in an open
meeting by a majority of the voting members of LBB and reported in the
public record of the committee with the name of the donor and purpose of
the gift, grant, or donation. 
 
Sec. 322.025.  COORDINATION OF INVESTIGATIONS.  (a)  Requires  the
administrative head of a department or entity that is subject to audit by
the board, if the person has reasonable cause to believe that money
received from the state by the department or entity or by a client or
contractor of the department or entity may have been lost,
misappropriated, or misused or that other fraudulent or unlawful conduct
has occurred in relation to the operation of the department or entity, to
report the reason and basis for the belief to the board.  Authorizes the
board to investigate the report or to monitor any investigation conducted
by the department or entity. 
 
(b)  Requires LBB, in consultation with state agencies and institutions,
to prescribe the form, content, and timing of a report required by this
section. 
 
(c)  Provides that all records of a communication by or to LBB relating to
a report to LBB under Subsection (a) are audit working papers of the
board. 
 
(d)  Defines "audit working papers."
 
Sec. 322.026.  SEAL.  Requires LBB to obtain a seal with "Legislative
Budget Board, State of Texas" engraved around the margin and a
five-pointed star in the center to be used to authenticate official
documents issued by LBB. 
 
SECTION 2.03.  Repealer: Chapter 321 (State Auditor), Government Code.

PART 3.  CREATION OF PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMISSION; ABOLITION OF SUNSET
ADVISORY COMMISSION AND TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS TO PERFORMANCE REVIEW
COMMISSION 

SECTION 3.01.  Amends Section 325.002, Government Code, as follows:
 
Sec. 325.002.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "department."  Makes nonsubstantive
changes. 
  
SECTION 3.02.  Amends Section 325.003, Government Code, by amending the
section heading and Subsections (a), (d), and (i) to read as follows: 
  
Sec. 325.003.  New heading: PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMISSION.  Deletes
existing text in heading relating to the Sunset Advisory Commission
(Sunset). 

(a)  Provides that the Performance Review Commission (commission), rather
than Sunset, consists of the lieutenant governor, three members, rather
than four members, of the senate, one public member appointed by the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, three
members of the house of representatives, and one public member appointed
by the speaker of the house. Deletes existing text authorizing each
appointing authority to designate himself as one of the legislative
appointees.  Makes a conforming change. 
 
(d)  Provides that legislative members other than the lieutenant governor
and the speaker of the house of representatives serve four-year terms,
with terms staggered so that the terms of one-half of the legislative
members appointed by the lieutenant governor and the terms of one-half of
the legislative members appointed by the speaker expire September 1 of
each odd-numbered year. Requires the lieutenant governor and, rather than
or, the speaker to serve on the commission until resignation from the
commission or until the lieutenant governor or speaker ceases to hold the
office.  Provides that public members serve two-year terms expiring
September 1 of each odd-numbered year.  Makes nonsubstantive changes. 
 
(i)  Provides that the speaker of the house of representatives is the
chairman of the commission.  Deletes existing text relating to the
chairman, vice-chairman, and presiding officers of the commission.  

SECTION 3.03.  Amends Section 325.008(a), Government Code, to require the
commission, before September 1 of the even-numbered year before the year
in which a state agency subject to this chapter and its advisory
committees are abolished, to take certain actions.  

SECTION 3.04.  Amends Chapter 325, Government Code, by adding Sections
325.0081 through 325.0086, as follows: 

Sec. 325.0081.  OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES.  (a) Requires the commission to
conduct performance audits of all departments, including institutions of
higher education, as specified in the audit plan developed under
Subsection (c). 

(b) Requires the commission to conduct the audits in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards as prescribed by certain entities
that prescribe auditing standards.  

(c) Requires the commission to develop and approve an audit plan for the
state for each fiscal year.  Requires the commission to consider, in
devising the plan, recommendations concerning coordination of agency
functions made jointly by representatives of the commission and the LBB. 

(d) Authorizes the commission at any time during an audit to require the
assistance of certain employees of the entity being audited. 

(e) Provides that the commission is entitled to access to all of the
books, accounts, confidential or unconfidential reports, vouchers, or
other records of information in any department or entity subject to audit,
including access to all electronic data except as provided by Subsection
(f). 

(f) Provides that the commission has access to information and data the
release of which is restricted under federal law only with the approval of
the appropriate federal administrative agency.  Requires the commission to
have access to copyrighted or restricted information obtained by the
comptroller under  subscription agreements and used in the preparation of
economic estimates only for audit purposes. 

(g) Authorizes the commission to conduct economy and effectiveness audits
as defined by this chapter and specified in the audit plan. 

(h) Requires the commission, to the extent that the performance of the
powers and duties of the commission under law is not impeded, to make
reasonable efforts to coordinate requests for employee assistance under
Subsection (d) or requests for access to books, accounts, vouchers,
records, or data under Subsection (e) or (f) so as not to hinder the daily
operations of the audited entity. 

Sec. 325.0082.  ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY AUDIT.  Provides that an economy
and efficiency audit is an audit to determine certain information. 

Sec. 325.0083.  EFFECTIVENESS AUDIT.  Provides that an effectiveness audit
is an audit to determine, according to established or designated program
objectives, responsibilities or duties, statutes and regulations, program
performance criteria, or program evaluation standards whether the
objectives and intended benefits are being achieved efficiently and
effectively and whether the program duplicates, overlaps, or conflicts
with another state program. 

Sec. 325.0084.  IMPROPER PRACTICES AND ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS.  (a) Requires
the commission, if in the course of an audit the commission finds evidence
of uneconomical use of resources or ineffective program performance, after
consulting with the head of the department, to immediately report the
evidence to the governor and the administrative head and the chairman of
the governing body of the affected department. 

(b) Requires the commission, if in the course of an audit the commission
finds evidence of illegal transaction, after consulting with the head of
the department, to immediately report the transaction to the governor and
the appropriate legal authority. 

(c) Requires the commission to review a report alleging uneconomical use
of resources or ineffective program performance immediately.  Requires the
commission to consult with and authorizes the commission to hold hearings
with the administrative head and the chairman of the governing body of the
affected department regarding the report. 

(d) Requires the commission, if the administrative head or the governing
body of the affected department refuses to make the changes recommended by
the commission at the hearing or provide any additional information or
reports requested, to report the refusal to the legislature. 

Sec. 325.0085.  REVIEW OF INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION.  Authorizes the
commission to periodically review and analyze the effectiveness and
efficiency of the policies, management, fiscal affairs, and operations of
an organization that is a component or part of a state agency or
institution and that sanctions or conduces interscholastic competition.
Requires the commission to report the findings to certain officials.
Authorizes the legislature to consider the commission's report in
connection with the legislative appropriations process. 

Sec. 325.0086.  RECORDS MANAGEMENT REVIEW.  (a) Authorizes the commission
to periodically review and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of the
policies and management of a state governmental committee or state agency
that is involved in certain actions. 

(b) Defines "state agency."

 PART 4.  POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE PRESERVATION BOARD

SECTION 4.01.  Amends Section 443.007, Government Code, by adding
Subsection (e), to authorize the State Preservation Board (SPB) to adopt
any management or oversight method or procedure reasonably necessary to
ensure that the requirements under Subsection (a) are met in the most
economical and efficient manner. 
 
SECTION 4.02.  Amends Chapter 443, Government Code, by adding Section
443.0232, as follows: 
 
Sec. 443.0232.  CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SERVICES
BOARD.  (a)  Requires SPB to consult with the Legislative Information
Services Board regarding the installation of information technology
equipment in the Capitol, the General Land Office Building, and their
grounds.  Requires the interest of preservation to be balanced against the
need of the legislative branch of state government for computer hardware
and other types of office machinery and communication tools. 
 
(b)  Requires the consultation under Subsection (a) to include an analysis
of the extent of any permanent changes in the appearance of the buildings
or their grounds likely to be caused by the installation of information
technology equipment, including wiring and antennas, methods for
minimizing the impact of the installation on the appearance of the
buildings or grounds, and ways to ensure that any necessary alterations in
the appearance of the buildings or grounds conform, to the extent
reasonably practicable, with the architectural and historical integrity of
the buildings or grounds. 

PART 5.  CREATION OF LEGISLATIVE POLICY COUNCIL

SECTION 5.01.  Amends Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, by adding
Chapter 331, as follows: 

Chapter 331.  LEGISLATIVE POLICY COUNCIL

Sec. 331.001.  LEGISLATIVE POLICY COUNCIL.  Provides that the Legislative
Policy Council (council) is an agency in the legislative branch of state
government. 

Sec. 331.002. .  MEMBERSHIP.  (a) Provides that the council is composed of
certain members. 

(b) Provides that the lieutenant governor is the chairman of the council
and the speaker is the vice chairman. 

Sec. 331.003.  QUORUM; MEETINGS.  (a) Provides that a majority of the
members of the council from each house constitutes a quorum to transact
business.   

(b) Requires the council to meet at the call of the chairman or on written
petition of a majority of the members of the council from each house. 

(c) Requires the council to meet in Austin, except that if a majority of
the members of the council from each house agree, the council may meet in
any location determined by the council. 

(d) Provides that each member of the legislature is entitled to attend and
present the member's views in any meeting of the council.  Prohibits a
legislator who is not a member of the council from voting. 

Sec. 331.004.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; PERSONNEL.  (a) Authorizes the council
to employ an executive director. 

 (b) Authorizes the executive director, with the approval of the council,
to employ necessary personnel. 

Sec. 331.005.  COUNCIL EXPENDITURES; SALARIES.  (a) Provides that the
amount of allowable expenditures for the council is determined by
legislative appropriation.  

(b) Requires the council to determine the salaries of its employees.

Sec. 331.006.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  (a) Authorizes the council to accept
gifts, grants, and donations from any organization described in Section
501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for the purpose of
funding any activity under this chapter. 

(b) Requires all major gifts, grants, and donations to be accepted in an
open meeting by a majority of the voting members of the council and
reported in the minutes of the council meeting with the name of the donor
and purpose of the gift, grant, or donation. 

Sec. 331.007.  DUTIES.  Requires the council staff to perform policy
analysis and related empirical analysis and research at the direction of
the council regarding issues and matters identified by the council that
may affect state revenue or appropriations or that may be the subject of
legislation or proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. 

Sec. 331.008.  AGENCY COOPERATION.  Requires each state agency in any
branch of state government to cooperate with the council in providing the
council with the information the council requires to perform its duties. 
   
PART 6.  CONFORMING AMENDMENTS

SECTION 6.01.  Amends Section 81.113(a), Government Code, to make
conforming changes.    
SECTION 6.02.  Amends Section 301.021(a), Government Code, to make
conforming changes. 

SECTION 6.03.  Amends Section 301.028(a), Government Code, to make
conforming changes.   

SECTION 6.04.  Amends Sections 301.041(a) and (d), Government Code, to
make conforming changes.  
 
SECTION 6.05.  Amends Section 302.032, Government Code, to make conforming
changes.     
SECTION 6.06.  Amends Section 302.033, Government Code, to make conforming
changes.    
SECTION 6.07.  Amends Section 306.007, Government Code, to make a
conforming change. 
  
SECTION 6.08.  Amends Section 326.001, Government Code, to redefine
"legislative agency." 

SECTION 6.09.  Amends Sections 326.003(a) and (b), Government Code, as
follows: 
 
(a)  Makes conforming changes.
 
(b)  Requires the director of the LBB, rather than the state auditor, to
call each meeting. 
 
SECTION 6.10.  Amends Section 468.003(b), Government Code, to make a
conforming change. 
  
SECTION 6.11.  Amends Section 531.203(d), Government Code, to make
conforming changes. 
 
SECTION 6.12.  Amends Subdivision (11), Section 572.002, Government Code,
to redefine "state employee." 
 
 SECTION 6.13.  Amends Section 660.203(a), Government Code, to provide
that an individual is entitled to reimbursement for the actual expense of
meals and lodging incurred while performing the duties of the individual's
office or employment if the individual meets certain conditions. 

SECTION 6.14.  Amends Section 660.206, Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 
 
SECTION 6.15.  Amends Section 762.003(a), Government Code, to make
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 
 
SECTION 6.16.  Amends Section 762.011, Government Code, to make a
conforming change.   
SECTION 6.17.  Amends Section 2052.0021(c), Government Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 6.18.  Amends Section 2056.002(d), Government Code, to make a
conforming and nonsubstantive change. 
 
SECTION 6.19.  Amends Section 2056.010, Government Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 6.20.  Amends Section 2102.009, Government Code, to make
conforming changes.   
SECTION 6.21.  Amends Sections 2102.0091(a) and (c), Government Code, to
make conforming changes. 
 
SECTION 6.22.  Amends Section 2155.203, Government Code, to make
conforming changes.   
SECTION 6.23.  Amends Section 2158.065, Government Code, to make
conforming changes. 

SECTION 6.24.  Amends Section 201.403(c), Transportation Code, to make a
conforming change.  

SECTION 6.25.  Amends Section 41.060(c), Utilities Code, to make
conforming changes.   
SECTION 6.26.  Amends Section 12(a), Chapter 357, Acts of the 64th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1975 (Article 4413(32e), V.T.C.S.), to make
conforming changes.  

SECTION 6.27.  Amends Section 11(a), Chapter 672, Acts of the 65th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1977 (Article 4413(42a), V.T.C.S.), to make
conforming changes. 

ARTICLE 7.  TRANSITION

SECTION 7.01.  (a)  Provides that the Texas Legislative Council is
abolished effective November 1, 2003. 

 (b)  Provides that on November 1, 2003:

(1)  all functions and activities assigned to or performed by the
information systems division of the Texas Legislative Council immediately
before that date are transferred to the Legislative Information Services
Board; 

(2)  all funds, obligations, contracts, property, and records of the Texas
Legislative Council relating to the services performed by the information
systems division of the Texas Legislative Council are transferred to the
Legislative Information Services Board; 

(3)  all employees of the information systems division of the Texas
Legislative Council become employees of the Legislative Information
Services Board; 

(4)  all of the property and records of the Texas Legislative Council
relating to the  services performed by the legal and research divisions of
the Texas Legislative Council are transferred to either the senate or the
house of representatives, as determined by the lieutenant governor and the
speaker of the house of representatives; 

(5)  all employees of the legal and research divisions of the Texas
Legislative Council become employees of either the senate or house of
representatives, as determined by the lieutenant governor and the speaker
of the house of representatives; and 
  
(6)  a reference in law to the Texas Legislative Council that relates to
the services performed by the information systems division of the Texas
Legislative Council means the Legislative Information Services Board. 
 
SECTION 7.02.  (a)  Provides that the office of state auditor and the
legislative audit committee are abolished but continue in effect until
December 1, 2003, for the sole purpose of transferring to LBB and the
Performance Review Commission all the rights, powers, duties, and
functions exercised by the state auditor and the legislative audit
committee immediately before the effective date of this Act.  Requires the
transfer to be completed not later than December 1, 2003. 

(b)  Provides that all the funds, contracts, property, personnel, and
records of the office of the state auditor and the legislative audit
committee are transferred to LBB and the Performance Review Commission, as
determined by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives, for the purpose of performing the audit functions that
the state auditor was authorized or required to perform immediately before
the effective date of this Act. 
 
(c)  Provides that a reference in law or in an administrative rule to the
state auditor or the office of the state auditor or the legislative audit
committee means LBB, or the Performance Review Commission for the purpose
of administering Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), as
amended by this Act. 
 
(d)  Provides that a reference in law to a financial or compliance audit
under Chapter 321, Government Code, as repealed by this Act, means an
audit under Chapter 322, Government Code, as amended by this Act. 
 
(e)  Provides that a reference in law to an efficiency audit, an economy
audit, or a program audit under Chapter 321, Government Code, as repealed
by this Act, means an audit under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas
Sunset Act), as amended by this Act. 
 
SECTION 7.03.  (a)  Provides that Sunset is abolished and the offices of
the Sunset members serving on the effective date of this Act are
abolished.  Provides that members of the commission serving immediately
prior to the effective date of this Act are eligible for reappointment to
the Performance Review Commission.  Provides that  prior service to the
Sunset Advisory Commission shall not disqualify a member of the
legislature or a member of the public from appointment to the Performance
Review Commission.  Requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of
the house of representatives, in making initial appointments to the
Performance Review Commission, to comply with Chapter 325, Government Code
(Texas Sunset Act), as amended by this Act, to stagger the appointments of
legislative members by specifying two-year and four-year terms for those
members.  Requires the chairman of the Performance Review Commission to be
designated by the speaker of the house of representatives, and the vice
chairman of the commission to be designated by the lieutenant governor. 
 
(b)  Provides that the validity of an action taken by Sunset before it is
abolished under Subsection (a) of this section is not affected by the
abolishment. 
 
SECTION 7.04.  Provides that on November 1, 2003:
  
(1)  a rule, standard, or form adopted by Sunset is a rule, standard, or
form of the  Performance Review Commission and remains in effect until
changed by the Performance Review Commission; 
  
(2)  a reference in law to Sunset means the Performance Review Commission;
  
(3)  all money, contracts, leases, rights, and obligations of Sunset are
transferred to the Performance Review Commission; 
  
(4)  all property, including records, in the custody of Sunset becomes the
property of the Performance Review Commission; and 

(5) all employees of the Subset Advisory Commission become employees of
the Performance Review Commission; 

(6) the executive director of the Sunset Advisory Commission shall serve
as the executive director of the Performance Review Commission until such
time as the commission convenes to either continue the employment of that
executive director or appoint another executive director; 
  
(7)  all funds appropriated by the legislature to Sunset are transferred
to the Performance Review Commission. 

SECTION 7.05.  Requires the lieutenant governor, on November 1, 2003, to
assume the chairmanship of the Legislative Information Services Board and
the speaker of the house of representatives to assume the vice
chairmanship of the board.  Provides that the initial terms of the
lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives expire
February 1, 2005. 

PART 8 .  EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 8.01.  Effective date: November 1, 2003.