SRC-AMY S.B. 29 78(1) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 29 78S10265 JRD-DBy: Whitmire Government Organization 7/8/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Access to independent analysis and research is essential to develop and evaluate sound public policy. As proposed, S.B. 29 creates the Legislative Policy Council to perform policy analysis and related statistical analysis to assist the legislature in making sound funding and legislative decisions and in monitoring the effectiveness of government programs, agencies, and policies. 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 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 the lieutenant governor, four members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker. (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 is authorized to meet in any location determined by the council. (d) Entitles each member of the legislature 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 gifts, grants, and donations to be accepted in an open meeting by a majority of the voting members of the council and to be reported in the minutes of the council meeting with the name of the donor and the 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. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. Provides that if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.