H.B. 1947 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1947
By: Flores
Appropriations
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, the
Texas Board of Professional Engineers, and the Texas Board of Public
Accountancy are participating in a pilot project as Self-Directed,
Semi-Independent (SDSI) Agencies.  Through this program, both the State
and the agencies involved have experienced substantial benefits.  However,
the Act that established this project expires on September 1, 2003; this
bill would extend that deadline to September 1, 2009. 

The Self-Directed, Semi-Independent Pilot Program was designed to
experiment running a state government agency like a business to achieve
more efficiency and effectiveness.  Regulatory agencies are charged with
operating as a business and are accountable to their stakeholders.   

There are numerous benefits received from this program that do not just
benefit the agencies, but the State as well.  By these agencies operating
like a business, the Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Office of
Budget and Planning are relieved of budget oversight of SDSI agencies and
associated costs.  Likewise, registrants become more directly involved in
evaluating the cost of operating the agency.  By making these agencies
self sufficient, the pilot program also reduces the size of the state
budget and the number of employees on the state payroll.   
 
House Bill 1947 extends the expiration date of the Self-Directed,
Semi-Independent Pilot Program,  which  involves the Texas Board of
Architectural Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, and
the Texas Board of Public Accountancy, until September 1, 2009.       
    
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

House Bill 1947 amends the Self-Directed, Semi-Independent Agency Project
Act by extending the expiration date from September 1, 2003 to September
1, 2009. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.