BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1116

                                                                                                                       By: Solomons (Nelson)

Government Organization

5/13/2005

Engrossed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

State agencies undergo periodic review by the Sunset Advisory Commission (commission).  Each session a sunset scheduling bill is filed to make necessary changes to the ongoing sunset review schedule in order to balance the workload of the commission, better align the reviews of agencies by grouping them based on subject matter, and, in some cases, to serve as a safety net in the event that an agency sunset bill is in danger of not passing.

H.B. 1116 moves the reviews of agencies to balance the upcoming review workload, ensure that certain agencies may be reviewed along with other similar agencies, and ensure that one agency's sunset review date coincides with that of the agency that provided administrative support when the agency first began operations.  H.B. 1116 also removes three non-functioning agencies and two legislative committees from sunset review.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

ARTICLE 1.  ENTITIES GIVEN 2007 SUNSET DATE

SECTION 1.01.  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.  Amends Section 201.204, Transportation Code, to change the sunset date for the Texas Department of Transportation from September 1, 2009, to September 1, 2007.

ARTICLE 2. ENTITIES GIVEN 2009 SUNSET DATE

SECTION 2.01.  TEXAS MILITARY PREPAREDNESS COMMISSION.  Amends Section 436.003, Government Code, as added by Chapter 149, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003 to extend the sunset date for the Texas Military Preparedness Commission from September 1, 2007, to September 1, 2009.

SECTION 2.02.  TEXAS CANCER COUNCIL. Amends Section 102.003, Health and Safety Code, to change the sunset date for the Texas Cancer Council from September 1, 2011, to September 1, 2009.

SECTION 2.03.  TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.  Amends Section 112.023, Human Resources Code,  to change the sunset date for the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities from September 1, 2011, to September 1, 2009.

SECTION 2.04.  GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.  Amends Section 115.005, Human Resources Code, to change the sunset date for the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities from September 1, 2011, to September 1, 2009.

ARTICLE 3. ENTITIES GIVEN 2015 SUNSET DATE

SECTION 3.01.  TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL GEOSCIENTISTS.  Amends Section 1002.003, Occupations Code, to extend the sunset date for the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists from September 1, 2013, to September 1, 2015.

ARTICLE 4. ENTITIES REMOVED FROM SPECIFIC SUNSET REVIEW

SECTION 4.01. Repealer: (1) Section 413.003 (Sunset Provision [Criminal Justice Policy Council]), Government Code;

            (2) Section 2108.007 (Application of Sunset Act [Texas Incentive and Productivity           Commission]), Government Code;

            (3) Section 2205.019 (Sunset Provision [State Aircraft Pooling Board]), Government         Code;

            (4) Article 21.49-20(d) (Property and Casualty Insurance Legislative Oversight      Committee [Property and Casualty Insurance Legislative Oversight Committee),         Insurance Code; and

            (5) Section 39.907(d) (Electric Utility Restructuring Legislative Oversight Committee),     Utilities Code.

ARTICLE 5. EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 5.01.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.