SRC-TJG H.B. 2947 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2947
By: Casteel (Armbrister)
State Affairs
5/19/2003
Engrossed
DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires state agencies to coordinate their planning and
program development with regional planning commissions. H.B. 2947 extends
this requirement to include an agency's plans for decentralization of
services and programs, and outlines the procedures for implementing the
requirement. 

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 Chapter 772, Government Code, by adding Section
772.011, as follows: 

Sec. 772.011.  DECENTRALIZATION OF STATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.  (a)
Requires a state agency that decentralizes programs or services provided
to public entities or nonprofit organizations in a region or regions to
consult with the governing bodies of regional planning commissions
established by counties and municipalities in the region or regions. 

(b)  Requires the geographic state planning regions established by the
governor under Chapter 391 (Regional Planning Commissions), Local
Government Code, or combinations of such regions, to be used as the
geographic area for regional decentralization of state programs or
services. 

(c)  Requires  state agencies, in planning for the regional
decentralization of services, to consider the use of regional planning
commissions established by counties and municipalities: 

(1)  to achieve efficiencies through shared costs for executive
management, administration, and financial accounting and reporting,
sharing of facilities and equipment, data services, and audit costs; 

(2)  to improve the planning, coordination, and delivery of services by
colocating programs and services; 

(3)  to increase accountability and local control by placing programs and
services under the oversight of the local elected officials and citizens
who constitute the governing bodies of regional planning commissions; and 

(4)  to improve financial oversight through the comprehensive auditing and
reporting required of regional planning commissions. 

(d)  Requires any proposed or final rule, order, or guide adopted by a
state agency to include a statement indicating how the agency complied
with the provisions of this section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.