79R9238 JJT-F

By:  Ogden                                                        S.B. No. 1613



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to statutory authority for the legislature to make or 
reduce appropriations to certain governmental entities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  GENERAL AUTHORITY.  (a)  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 VI of the General Appropriations Act, 79th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, may be reduced or eliminated in 
order to achieve a balanced budget.
	(b)  This section expires September 1, 2007.                                   
	SECTION 2.  ARTICLE VI AGENCY REDUCTION METHODS.  
Notwithstanding any other statute of this state, each state agency 
that receives funds under Article VI of the General Appropriations 
Act, 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is authorized to 
reduce expenditures by:
		(1)  consolidating any reports or publications the 
agency is required to make and filing or delivering any of those 
reports or publications exclusively by electronic means;
		(2)  extending the effective period of any license, 
permit, or registration the agency grants or administers;
		(3)  entering into a contract with another governmental 
entity or with a private vendor to carry out any of the agency's 
duties;
		(4)  providing that any communication between the 
agency and another person and any document required to be delivered 
to or by the agency, including any application, notice, billing 
statement, receipt, or certificate, may be made or delivered by 
electronic mail or through the Internet; and
		(5)  adopting and collecting fees or charges to cover 
any costs the agency incurs in performing its lawful functions.
	SECTION 3.  EROSION RESPONSE.  Section 40.152, Natural 
Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as 
follows:
	(c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(9), the legislature may 
appropriate to the General Land Office for erosion response 
projects under Subchapter H, Chapter 33, money from the fund in an 
amount that exceeds the amount of interest accruing to the fund 
annually.
	SECTION 4.  REPEALER.  Section 1, Chapter 200, Acts of the 
78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is repealed.
	SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2005.