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.