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.