BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 592

                                                                                                                               By: Jackson, Mike

                                                                                                          Land & Resource Management

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, there is a need for an organized effort at the federal level by the states on the Gulf Coast to derive more benefits for coastal areas.

 

The purpose of S.B. 592 is to initiate the formation of the Multistate Gulf Coast Legislative Working Group (group).  The group will ultimately be comprised of all the states that border the Gulf Coast (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida). The goal of this group is to bring together the decision makers at the state level who form policy related to coastal issues so that they may be united in their efforts at the federal level. The type of policy effort that will most likely have to be undertaken as a result of this legislation is organizing federal congressional support for matters important to the Gulf Coast such as beach erosion, preservation of bays and estuaries, and other issues that directly affect the coastal regions.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Gulf Coast Legislative Working Group

in SECTION 1 (Section 33.652, Natural Resources Code) of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.               Amends Chapter 33, Natural Resources Code, by adding Subchapter I, as follows:

 

                                    Makes legislative findings that it is in the best interest of this state for certain officials to work with other officials in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and with Congress on issues of common concern.

 

                                    States that the members of the group are the land commissioner, the chair of each standing or select committee or subcommittee of the senate with jurisdiction over the coastal issues, as determined by the lieutenant governor, and the chair of each standing or select committee or subcommittee of the house of representatives with jurisdiction over the coastal issues, as determined by the speaker of the house.

 

                                    Requires the annual election of a presiding officer and assistant presiding officer.

 

                                    Requires the group to meet as provided by rule of the group.

 

                                    Authorizes the group to use their staff to support activities and travel on group business in accordance with rules that apply to the members' travel on official business.

 

                                    Requires the group to take certain actions to address issues involving the Gulf Coast.

 

                                    Provides that the group and the appropriate entity in each state that accepts the proposal described in Subsection (a)(4) comprise the group.

 

 

                                    Authorizes the group to adopt a different name.      

 

                                    Requires the group to report on its activities to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives each year.

 

SECTION 2.               Effective Date.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2005.