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.