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.