SRC-VRA C.S.S.B. 1418 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1418
By: Ratliff
Government Organization
4/12/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law requires the lieutenant governor to appoint certain
individuals to various boards, councils, commissions and committees.
C.S.S.B. 1418 amends current statute to restructure the membership of
various entities, allowing the lieutenant governor more flexibility in
making the appointments . 

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 2.004(b), Agriculture Code, to remove the
chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee from the Texas Agriculture
Policy Board and increase the number of members appointed by the
lieutenant governor from three to four. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 71.012, Government Code, to remove the chair of
the Senate Jurisprudence Committee from the Texas Judicial Council and
increase the number of members appointed by the lieutenant governor from
one to two.  

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 71.052, Government Code, as follows:

(1)(C)  Provides that a senate member is designated by the lieutenant
governor from senate members serving on the Texas Judicial Council's Task
Force on Indigent Defense (council) rather than being appointed. 

(2)  Removes the chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee as a
council member and replaces with a senate member appointed by the
lieutenant governor.  

SECTION 4.  Amends Sections 321.002 (a) and (b), Government Code, as
follows:   

(a)  Removes the chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee from the
Legislative Audit Committee and replaces the chair with one senate member
appointed by the lieutenant governor. 

(b)  Requires the vice-chairman for the respective house or senate
committee to act in the absence of the chairman of a house or senate
committee. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 322.001(a), Government Code, to remove the
chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee from the Legislative Budget
Board (LBB) and increase the number of senate members appointed to LBB by
the lieutenant governor from two to three. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 323.001(b), Government Code, to remove the
chair of the Senate Administration Committee from the Texas Legislative
Council and increase the number of senate members appointed to that
committee by the lieutenant governor from four to five.  

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 324.004(b), Government Code, to remove the
chair of the Senate  Finance Committee from the Legislative Library Board
and increase the number of senate members appointed by the lieutenant
governor from one to two.  

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 436.003, Government Code, to remove the chair
of the Senate committee concerning veteran affairs and military
installations from the Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission and
replace the chair with a senate member appointed by the lieutenant
governor. 

SECTION 9.  Amends Section 436.004(a), Government Code, to provide that a
house member vacates the position on the Texas Strategic Military Planning
Commission if that member ceases to be the chair of the applicable
legislative committee.  Provides that a senate member serves on that
commission at the pleasure of the lieutenant governor. 

SECTION 10.  Amends Section 386.058(f), Health and Safety Code, to remove
the presiding officer of the senate standing committee having jurisdiction
over matters related to natural resources from the Texas Emissions
Reduction Plan Advisory Board and replace that presiding officer with a
senate member appointed by the lieutenant governor.  

SECTION 11.  Amends Section 91.1135(b), Natural Resources Code, to remove
the presiding officer of the senate committee with primary jurisdiction
over matters affecting natural resources from the Oil-Field Cleanup Fund
Advisory Board and replace that presiding officer with a senate member
appointed by the lieutenant governor. 

SECTION 12.  Amends 39.907, Utilities Code, by amending Subsection (b) and
adding Subsection (h), as follows:  

(b)  Removes the chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development
from the Legislative Oversight Committee and increases the number of
members appointed by the lieutenant governor from two to three.   

(h)  Requires the chair of the House Committee on State Affairs and one of
the members of the senate serving on the committee, designated by the
lieutenant governor, to serve as joint chairs of the committee.  

SECTION 13.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.