SRC-AMY C.S.H.B. 2947 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 2947
78R16568 MXM-F         By: Casteel (Armbrister)
State Affairs
5-23-2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires state agencies to coordinate their planning and
program development with regional planning commissions. C.S.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 391, Government Code, by adding Section
391.0091, as follows: 

Sec. 391.0091.  STATE AGENCY CONSULTATION WITH REGIONAL PLANNING
COMMISSIONS.  (a)  Defines "service." 

(b) Requires a state agency, if the agency determines that a service
provided by that agency should be decentralized to a multicounty region,
to use a state planning region or combination of regions for the
decentralization. 

(c)  Requires a state agency that decentralizes a service provided to more
than one public entity or nonprofit organization in a region to consult
with the regional planning commission (commission) for that region in
planning the decentralization.  Requires the commission to consult with
each affected public entity or nonprofit organization. 

(d) Requires a state agency, in planning for decentralization of a service
in a region, to consider using a commission for that service to: 

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

(2) improve the planning, coordination, and delivery of services by
coordinating the location of services; 

(3) increase accountability and local control by placing a service under
the oversight of the commission; and 

(4) improve financial oversight through the auditing and reporting
required under this chapter. 

(e)  Sets forth the services to which this section does not apply.

 SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 2001, Government Code, by adding
Section 2001.041, as follows: 

Sec. 2001.041.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAW ON DECENTRALIZATION.  Requires a state
agency rule, order, or guide relating to decentralization of agency
services or programs to include a statement of the manner in which the
agency complied with Section 391.0091, Local Government Code. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of Section 2001.041, Government Code, as
added by this Act, prospective. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.