SRC-TJG, TJG C.S.S.B. 1861 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1861 78R14669 JJT-FBy: Bivins Finance 5/6/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under statutory authority the comptroller of public accounts pays claims for the State of Texas, except for those claims that are more than four years old or that are more than $25,000 in amount. These claims consist of warrants voided by the statute of limitations, outstanding invoices to private vendors, unpaid charges for Medicaid recipients, or court judgments. C.S.S.B. 1861 directs payments, after approval, of certain miscellaneous claims and judgments against the state out of certain funds and makes certain appropriations. 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. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund Account No. 0001 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities and persons. SECTION 2. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the State Highway Fund No. 0006 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities. SECTION 3. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Game, Fish, and Water Safety Fund Account No. 0009 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities. SECTION 4. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Vital Statistics Fund Account No. 0019 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities. SECTION 5. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Texas Department of Insurance Operating Fund No. 0036 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain person. SECTION 6. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue State Parks Fund Account No. 0064 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities. SECTION 7. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Operators and Chauffeurs License Account No. 0099 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain individual. SECTION 8. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Clean Air Fund Account No. 0151 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain individual. SECTION 9. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue Texas Southern University Current Fund Account No. 0247 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain individual. SECTION 10. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue - Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund Account No. 0469 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain individual. SECTION 11. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue - Petroleum Storage Tank Remediation Account No. 0655 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities. SECTION 12. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the Unemployment Compensation Clearance Fund Account No. 0936 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain estate. SECTION 13. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue - Asbestos Removal Licensure Fund Account No. 5017 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay a certain entity. SECTION 14. Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated out of the General Revenue - Workforce Commission Federal Fund Account No. 5026 for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain individuals and entities. SECTION 15. (a) Provides that certain sums of money are appropriated to the Texas Department of Human Services, out of the funds as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, for payment of itemized claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas to pay certain entities. (b) Requires the amounts appropriated by Subsection (a) of this section to be drawn from certain sources in certain amounts. SECTION 16. (a) Requires the claim or judgment, before any claim or judgment may be paid from money appropriated by this Act, to be verified and substantiated by the administrator of the special fund or account against which the claim is to be charged and be approved by certain persons. Prohibits any claim or judgment itemized in this Act that has not been verified and substantiated by the administrator of the special fund or account and approved by certain persons by August 31, 2004, from being paid from money appropriated by this Act. (b) Requires each claim or judgment paid from money appropriated by this Act to contain such information as the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) requires but to contain at a minimum the specific reason for the claim or judgment. Requires the claim, if the claim is for a void warrant, to include a specific identification of the goods, services, refund, or other item for which the warrant was originally issued. Requires the claim, in addition, to include a certification by the original payee or the original payee's successor, heirs, or assigns that the debt is still outstanding. Requires the claim, if the claim or judgment is for unpaid goods or services, to be accompanied by an invoice or other acceptable documentation of the unpaid account and any other information that may be required by the comptroller. SECTION 17. Provides that subject to the conditions and restrictions in this Act and provisions stated in the judgments, the comptroller is authorized and directed to issue one or more warrants on the state treasury, as soon as possible following the effective date of this Act, in favor of each of the individuals, firms, or corporations named in Sections 1-14 of this Act, in an amount not to exceed the amount set opposite their respective names and shall mail or deliver to each of the individuals, firms, or corporations one or more warrants in payment of all claims included in this Act. Requires the comptroller to issue warrants to the Texas Department of Human Services for payment in favor of each of the individuals, firms, or corporations listed in Section 15 of this Act. Requires the comptroller to issue warrants to the Health and Human Services Commission for payment in favor of each of the individuals, firms, or corporations listed in Section 16 of this Act. SECTION 18. Effective date: September 1, 2003.