SRC-LBB H.B. 1767 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1767 By: Ellis, Dan (Williams) Intergovernmental Relations 4/30/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, incumbent county commissioners who are not reelected in counties with a population of less than 50,000 are required to have their post-election purchases authorized by the county commissioners court. This law was established to prevent "lame duck" commissioners from spending excessively after not being reelected. H.B. 1767 removes the population cap, extends expenditure restrictions to precinct officers, and extends the time period that the commissioners court must approve expenditures to the date that primary election results are returned. 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 130.908, Local Government Code, as follows: Sec. 130.908. New heading: APPROVAL OF SPENDING BY CERTAIN COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICERS. Requires the commissioners court to approve any expenditure by the incumbent county or precinct officer, rather than commissioner, who was not renominated or reelected that is over an amount set by the commissioners court, if an incumbent county or precinct officer is not renominated or is not reelected, rather than elected, to a county, regardless of population, during the time following the date the results of the official canvas of the primary or election returns are announced. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.