BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1778

                                                                                                                                By: Van de Putte

S/C on Higher Education

4/15/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law does not require junior college district trustees to file disclosure information with the Texas Ethics Commission.  At the very least, junior college districts are considered quasi-state agencies.  Junior college boards of trustees are elected officials and should, therefore, be subject to the same disclosure filings as other state officials.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding Section 130.0831, as follows:

Sec. 130.0831.  FILING OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT BY TRUSTEE.  (a)  Requires a member of the board of trustees of a junior college district to file the financial statement required of state officers under Subchapter B (Personal Financial Statement), Chapter 572, Government Code, with the board of trustees of the junior college district and the Texas Ethics Commission.

(b)  Provides that Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Government Code, applies to a trustee of a junior college district as if the trustee were a state officer and governs the contents, timeliness of filing, and public inspection of a statement filed under this section.

(c)  Provides that a trustee subject to this section commits an offense if the trustee fails to file the statement required by this section.  Provides that an offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

Effective date: 91st day after adjournment.  [Bill as drafted provides no effective date.]