BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1606

79R7005 JJT-F                                                                                                                  By: Ogden

                                                                                                                                                Finance

                                                                                                                                            4/22/2005

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

As proposed, S.B. 1606 appropriates from the general revenue fund, dedicated accounts in that fund, and other state and federal funds to pay miscellaneous claims and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas.  Each payment is subject to verification and substantiation of the claim or judgment and approval by the attorney general and the comptroller of public accounts. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTIONS 1-20.  Appropriates various sums of money to specific persons and entities for the payment of miscellaneous claims and judgments, plus interest, as applicable, against the State of Texas.  Sets forth specific funds from which said payments are to be made.

 

SECTION 21.  (a)  Requires the judgment or claim, before any claim or judgment is authorized to be paid from money appropriated by this Act, to be verified and substantiated by the administrator of the special fund or account against which the claim is to be charged and be approved by the attorney general and the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller).  Prohibits any claim or judgment itemized in this Act that has not been verified and substantiated by the administrator of the special fund or account and approved by the attorney general and the comptroller by August 31, 2006, from being paid from the money appropriated by this Act.

 

(b)  Requires each claim or judgment from money appropriated by this Act to contain such information as the comptroller requires, but requires it at a minimum to contain the specific reason for the claim or judgment.  Requires the claim, if it is for a void warrant, to include a specific identification of the goods, services, refund, or other item for which the warrant was originally issued.  Requires the claim, in addition, to include a certification by the original payee or the original payee's successor, heirs, or assigns that the debt is still outstanding.  Requires the claim or judgment, if it is for unpaid goods or services, to be accompanied by an invoice or other acceptable documentation of the unpaid account and any other information that is authorized to be required by the comptroller.

 

SECTION 22.  Authorizes and directs the comptroller, subject to the conditions and restrictions in this Act and provisions stated in the judgments, to issue one or more warrants on the state treasury, as soon as possible following the effective date of this Act, in favor of each of the individuals, firms, or corporations named in Sections 1-20 of this Act, in an amount not to exceed the amount set opposite their respective names and requires the comptroller to mail or deliver to each of the individuals, firms, or corporations one or more warrants in payment of all claims included in this Act.  Requires the comptroller to issue warrants to the Health and Human Services Commission for the payment in favor of each of the individuals, firms, or corporations listed in Section 20 of this Act.

 

SECTION 23.  Effective date:  September 1, 2005.