By:  Casteel (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister)                        H.B. No. 2947
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 28, 2003; 
May 1, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on State 
Affairs; May 23, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; 
May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2947                                   By:  Armbrister


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to state agency decentralization of services.                      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 391, Local Government Code, is amended 
by adding Section 391.0091 to read as follows:
	Sec. 391.0091.  STATE AGENCY CONSULTATION WITH REGIONAL 
PLANNING COMMISSIONS.  (a)  In this section, "service" includes a 
program.
	(b)  If a state agency determines that a service provided by 
that agency should be decentralized to a multicounty region, the 
agency shall use a state planning region or combination of regions 
for the decentralization.
	(c)  A state agency that decentralizes a service provided to 
more than one public entity or nonprofit organization in a region 
shall consult with the commission for that region in planning the 
decentralization.  The commission shall consult with each affected 
public entity or nonprofit organization.
	(d)  A state agency, in planning for decentralization of a 
service in a region, shall consider using a commission for that 
service to:
		(1)  achieve efficiencies through shared costs for:                    
			(A)  executive management;                                            
			(B)  administration;                                                  
			(C)  financial accounting and reporting;                              
			(D)  facilities and equipment;                                        
			(E)  data services; and                                               
			(F)  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)  This section does not apply to a service:                          
		(1)  that continues to be operated by a state agency 
through a regional administrative office of that agency; or
		(2)  for which the state agency determines that a law, 
rule, or program policy makes use of the geographic area of a single 
county  or adjacent counties more appropriate.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 2001, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 2001.041 to read as follows:
	Sec. 2001.041.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAW ON DECENTRALIZATION.  A 
state agency rule, order, or guide relating to decentralization of 
agency services or programs must include a statement of the manner 
in which the agency complied with Section 391.0091, Local 
Government Code.
	SECTION 3.  Section 2001.041, Government Code, as added by 
this Act, applies only to a state agency rule, order, or guide 
adopted on or after September 1, 2003.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           



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