78R8720 LJR-D

By:  Bivins                                                       S.B. No. 1866



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to statutory authority to reduce appropriations made by 
the legislature to certain governmental entities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, the 
legislature, in its discretion, may determine the amount of each 
appropriation of state funds.  The amounts required by statute for 
entities that receive state funds under Article 1 of the General 
Appropriations Act may be reduced or eliminated in order to achieve 
a balanced budget.
	SECTION 2.  The Employees Retirement System shall reduce 
expenditures by:    
		(1)  implementing a 30-day waiting period before newly 
hired employees may receive insurance benefits;
		(2)  establishing new minimum eligibility requirements 
for future retirees to receive insurance as a retirement benefit;
		(3)  reducing the state contribution for insurance 
benefits for employees who work less than full-time;
		(4)  eliminating or reducing system contributions for 
the State Kids Insurance Program;
		(5)  discontinuing state contributions for members of 
state boards;         
		(6)  eliminating state contributions for graduate 
teaching assistants at institutions of higher education;
		(7)  decreasing the maximum age for which dependents of 
state employees and retirees may be covered by state insurance; and
		(8)  reducing the death benefits for beneficiaries of 
public safety personnel.
	SECTION 3.  The Texas Ethics Commission shall reduce 
expenditures by:        
		(1)  requiring electronic filing of documents with the 
commission;          
		(2)  providing required notice by general means instead 
of individual notice; and
		(3)  providing forms on the commission's Internet 
website instead of mailing required forms.
	SECTION 4.  The Texas Commission on Human Rights shall 
reduce expenditures by instituting measures necessary to receive as 
much federal funding as possible while implementing cost-saving 
measures.
	SECTION 5.  The Pension Review Board shall reduce 
expenditures by discontinuing, when possible, the provision of 
technical assistance and the issuance of actuarial impact 
statements.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.