SRC-JEC H.B. 649 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 649
78R12832 MCK-DBy: Keffer, Jim (Estes)
State Affairs
5/22/2003
Engrossed


This analysis utilizes the House Committee Report, which is the most
recent version available to the Senate Research Center, and is not
formatted to the style of the Senate Research Center.  No amendments were
added to H.B. 649 on the House floor. 


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 7, enacted by the 77th Legislature, created the Office of Rural
Community Affairs. H.B. 7 required an annual meeting of agency heads to
discuss rural issues.   

H.B. 649 adds agencies that were left out of H.B. 7 to the list of
agencies required to attend the annual meeting and clarifies the purpose
of the annual meeting. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.   Amends Sections 487.054(a), Government Code, to clarify that
the additional purpose of the annual meeting is to aid the Office of Rural
Community Affairs in developing rural policy and compiling their annual
report.  Adds several agencies to the list of agencies required to attend
the annual meeting. 

SECTION 2.   Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, by adding
Sec. 487.0541 as follows: 

Creates an interagency work group to develop a process to allow agencies
to work together on rural issues, discuss and coordinate programs and
services offered to rural communities and residents, and develop
regulatory and legislative recommendations that would eliminate
duplication and combine program services. 

Requires the executive head of the agencies included under SECTION 1 to
appoint a representative from the respective agency to serve as a member
of an interagency work group. 

Requires the work group to meet at the call of the executive director of
the Office of Rural Community Affairs. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 September 1, 2003.