|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of |
|
Texas, 82nd Legislature, 1st Called Session, 2011, That House Rule |
|
13, Section 9(a), be suspended in part as provided by House Rule 13, |
|
Section 9(f), to enable the conference committee appointed to |
|
resolve the differences on Senate Bill 1 (certain state fiscal |
|
matters; providing penalties) to consider and take action on the |
|
following matters: |
|
(1) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(1), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to change text which is not in disagreement in |
|
proposed Section 4.02 of the bill, in added Section 111.0041(c), |
|
Tax Code, to read as follows: |
|
Contemporaneous records and supporting documentation appropriate |
|
to the tax or fee may include, for example, invoices, vouchers, |
|
checks, shipping records, contracts, or other equivalent records, |
|
such as electronically stored images of such documents, reflecting |
|
legal relationships and taxes collected and paid. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide clear |
|
examples of what types of records or documentation appropriate to a |
|
tax or fee may be used to verify certain claims. |
|
(2) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Article 5 |
|
of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and the corresponding |
|
article of the bill as the bill was amended by the house of |
|
representatives, relating to unclaimed property, that reads: |
|
ARTICLE 5. UNCLAIMED PROPERTY |
|
SECTION 5.01. Subsection (a), Section 72.101, Property |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by this section and Sections 72.1015, |
|
72.1016, 72.1017, and 72.102, personal property is presumed |
|
abandoned if, for longer than three years: |
|
(1) the existence and location of the owner of the |
|
property is unknown to the holder of the property; and |
|
(2) according to the knowledge and records of the |
|
holder of the property, a claim to the property has not been |
|
asserted or an act of ownership of the property has not been |
|
exercised. |
|
SECTION 5.02. Subchapter B, Chapter 72, Property Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 72.1017 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 72.1017. UTILITY DEPOSITS. (a) In this section: |
|
(1) "Utility" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
183.001, Utilities Code. |
|
(2) "Utility deposit" is a refundable money deposit a |
|
utility requires a user of the utility service to pay as a condition |
|
of initiating the service. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Section 73.102, a utility deposit is |
|
presumed abandoned on the latest of: |
|
(1) the first anniversary of the date a refund check |
|
for the utility deposit was payable to the owner of the deposit; |
|
(2) the first anniversary of the date the utility last |
|
received documented communication from the owner of the utility |
|
deposit; or |
|
(3) the first anniversary of the date the utility |
|
issued a refund check for the deposit payable to the owner of the |
|
deposit if, according to the knowledge and records of the utility or |
|
payor of the check, during that period, a claim to the check has not |
|
been asserted or an act of ownership by the payee has not been |
|
exercised. |
|
SECTION 5.03. Subsection (c), Section 72.102, Property |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) A money order to which Subsection (a) applies is |
|
presumed to be abandoned on the latest of: |
|
(1) the third [seventh] anniversary of the date on |
|
which the money order was issued; |
|
(2) the third [seventh] anniversary of the date on |
|
which the issuer of the money order last received from the owner of |
|
the money order communication concerning the money order; or |
|
(3) the third [seventh] anniversary of the date of the |
|
last writing, on file with the issuer, that indicates the owner's |
|
interest in the money order. |
|
SECTION 5.04. Section 72.103, Property Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 72.103. PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY. Notwithstanding any |
|
other provision of this title except a provision of this section or |
|
Section 72.1016 relating to a money order or a stored value card, a |
|
holder of abandoned property shall preserve the property and may |
|
not at any time, by any procedure, including a deduction for |
|
service, maintenance, or other charge, transfer or convert to the |
|
profits or assets of the holder or otherwise reduce the value of the |
|
property. For purposes of this section, value is determined as of |
|
the date of the last transaction or contact concerning the |
|
property, except that in the case of a money order, value is |
|
determined as of the date the property is presumed abandoned under |
|
Section 72.102(c). If a holder imposes service, maintenance, or |
|
other charges on a money order prior to the time of presumed |
|
abandonment, such charges may not exceed the amount of $1 [50 cents] |
|
per month for each month the money order remains uncashed prior to |
|
the month in which the money order is presumed abandoned. |
|
SECTION 5.05. Section 73.101, Property Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(a) An account or safe deposit box is presumed abandoned if: |
|
(1) except as provided by Subsection (c), the account |
|
or safe deposit box has been inactive for at least five years as |
|
determined under Subsection (b); |
|
(2) the location of the depositor of the account or |
|
owner of the safe deposit box is unknown to the depository; and |
|
(3) the amount of the account or the contents of the |
|
box have not been delivered to the comptroller in accordance with |
|
Chapter 74. |
|
(c) If the account is a checking or savings account or is a |
|
matured certificate of deposit, the account is presumed abandoned |
|
if the account has been inactive for at least three years as |
|
determined under Subsection (b)(1). |
|
SECTION 5.06. Subsection (a), Section 74.101, Property |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Each holder who on March 1 [June 30] holds property that |
|
is presumed abandoned under Chapter 72, 73, or 75 of this code or |
|
under Chapter 154, Finance Code, shall file a report of that |
|
property on or before the following July [November] 1. The |
|
comptroller may require the report to be in a particular format, |
|
including a format that can be read by a computer. |
|
SECTION 5.07. Subsection (a), Section 74.1011, Property |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a holder who on |
|
March 1 [June 30] holds property valued at more than $250 that is |
|
presumed abandoned under Chapter 72, 73, or 75 of this code or |
|
Chapter 154, Finance Code, shall, on or before the following May |
|
[August] 1, mail to the last known address of the known owner |
|
written notice stating that: |
|
(1) the holder is holding the property; and |
|
(2) the holder may be required to deliver the property |
|
to the comptroller on or before July [November] 1 if the property is |
|
not claimed. |
|
SECTION 5.08. Subsections (a) and (c), Section 74.301, |
|
Property Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), each holder who on |
|
March 1 [June 30] holds property that is presumed abandoned under |
|
Chapter 72, 73, or 75 shall deliver the property to the comptroller |
|
on or before the following July [November] 1 accompanied by the |
|
report required to be filed under Section 74.101. |
|
(c) If the property subject to delivery under Subsection (a) |
|
is the contents of a safe deposit box, the comptroller may instruct |
|
a holder to deliver the property on a specified date before July |
|
[November] 1 of the following year. |
|
SECTION 5.09. Subsection (e), Section 74.601, Property |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(e) The comptroller on receipt or from time to time may |
|
[from time to time] sell securities, including stocks, bonds, and |
|
mutual funds, received under this chapter or any other statute |
|
requiring the delivery of unclaimed property to the comptroller and |
|
use the proceeds to buy, exchange, invest, or reinvest in |
|
marketable securities. When making or selling the investments, the |
|
comptroller shall exercise the judgment and care of a prudent |
|
person. |
|
SECTION 5.10. Section 74.708, Property Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 74.708. PROPERTY HELD IN TRUST. A holder who on March |
|
1 [June 30] holds property presumed abandoned under Chapters 72-75 |
|
holds the property in trust for the benefit of the state on behalf |
|
of the missing owner and is liable to the state for the full value of |
|
the property, plus any accrued interest and penalty. A holder is |
|
not required by this section to segregate or establish trust |
|
accounts for the property provided the property is timely delivered |
|
to the comptroller in accordance with Section 74.301. |
|
SECTION 5.11. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or |
|
(c) of this section, this article takes effect on the 91st day after |
|
the last day of the legislative session. |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, |
|
Subsection (a), Section 74.101, Subsection (a), Section 74.1011, |
|
Subsections (a) and (c), Section 74.301, and Section 74.708, |
|
Property Code, as amended by this article, take effect January 1, |
|
2013. |
|
(c) If H.B. No. 257, Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular |
|
Session, 2011, becomes law, this article has no effect. |
|
SECTION 5.12. A charge imposed on a money order under |
|
Section 72.103, Property Code, by a holder before the effective |
|
date of this article is governed by the law applicable to the charge |
|
immediately before the effective date of this article, and the |
|
holder may retain the charge. |
|
Explanation: The article is omitted as unnecessary because |
|
its provisions were largely duplicative of those of House Bill No. |
|
257, Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as |
|
effective September 1, 2011, and January 1, 2013. |
|
(3) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(3), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to add text on a matter which is not in disagreement |
|
in proposed Sections 5.01 and 5.02 of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 5.01. Subsection (b), Section 72.1017, Property |
|
Code, as effective September 1, 2011, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Section 73.102, a utility deposit is |
|
presumed abandoned on the latest of: |
|
(1) the first anniversary of [18 months after] the |
|
date a refund check for the utility deposit was payable to the owner |
|
of the deposit; |
|
(2) the first anniversary of [18 months after] the |
|
date the utility last received documented communication from the |
|
owner of the utility deposit; or |
|
(3) the first anniversary of [18 months after] the |
|
date the utility issued a refund check for the deposit payable to |
|
the owner of the deposit if, according to the knowledge and records |
|
of the utility or payor of the check, during that period, a claim to |
|
the check has not been asserted or an act of ownership by the payee |
|
has not been exercised. |
|
SECTION 5.02. This article takes effect on the 91st day |
|
after the last day of the legislative session. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide for a |
|
presumption of abandonment of certain utility deposits after one |
|
year. |
|
(4) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 7.01 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter not included in either the house or the senate version of the |
|
bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 7.01. Section 51.008, Government Code, as effective |
|
September 1, 2011, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding |
|
Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
(c) The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial |
|
System may collect the fees recommended by the process server |
|
review board and approved by the supreme court. Fees collected |
|
under this section shall be sent to the comptroller for deposit to |
|
the credit of the general revenue fund [and may be appropriated only
|
|
to the office for purposes of this section]. |
|
(d) Fees collected under this section may be appropriated to |
|
the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System for |
|
the support of regulatory programs for process servers, guardians, |
|
and court reporters. |
|
Explanation: The changes are necessary to clarify the |
|
purposes for which certain deposited fees may be appropriated. |
|
(5) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Section |
|
8.01 of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and the |
|
corresponding section of the bill as the bill was amended by the |
|
house of representatives, relating to petroleum industry |
|
regulation, that reads: |
|
SECTION 8.01. Section 26.3574, Water Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(b) A fee is imposed on the delivery of a petroleum product |
|
on withdrawal from bulk of that product as provided by this |
|
subsection. Each operator of a bulk facility on withdrawal from |
|
bulk of a petroleum product shall collect from the person who orders |
|
the withdrawal a fee in an amount determined as follows: |
|
(1) not more than $3.125 [$3.75] for each delivery |
|
into a cargo tank having a capacity of less than 2,500 gallons [for
|
|
the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2007, through the
|
|
state fiscal year ending August 31, 2011]; |
|
(2) not more than $6.25 [$7.50] for each delivery into |
|
a cargo tank having a capacity of 2,500 gallons or more but less |
|
than 5,000 gallons [for the state fiscal year beginning September
|
|
1, 2007, through the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2011]; |
|
(3) not more than $9.37 [$11.75] for each delivery |
|
into a cargo tank having a capacity of 5,000 gallons or more but |
|
less than 8,000 gallons [for the state fiscal year beginning
|
|
September 1, 2007, through the state fiscal year ending August 31,
|
|
2011]; |
|
(4) not more than $12.50 [$15.00] for each delivery |
|
into a cargo tank having a capacity of 8,000 gallons or more but |
|
less than 10,000 gallons [for the state fiscal year beginning
|
|
September 1, 2007, through the state fiscal year ending August 31,
|
|
2011]; and |
|
(5) not more than $6.25 [$7.50] for each increment of |
|
5,000 gallons or any part thereof delivered into a cargo tank having |
|
a capacity of 10,000 gallons or more [for the state fiscal year
|
|
beginning September 1, 2007, through the state fiscal year ending
|
|
August 31, 2011]. |
|
(b-1) The commission by rule shall set the amount of the fee |
|
in Subsection (b) in an amount not to exceed the amount necessary to |
|
cover the agency's costs of administering this subchapter, as |
|
indicated by the amount appropriated by the legislature from the |
|
petroleum storage tank remediation account for that purpose. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
largely duplicates provisions of Section 4.19, House Bill No. 2694, |
|
Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as effective |
|
September 1, 2011. |
|
(6) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(1), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to alter text which is not in disagreement in proposed |
|
Section 15.05 of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 15.05. Subsection (d), Section 19.002, Election |
|
Code, as effective September 1, 2011, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) The secretary of state [comptroller] may not make a |
|
payment under Subsection (b) [issue a warrant] if on June 1 of the |
|
year in which the payment [warrant] is to be made [issued the most
|
|
recent notice received by the comptroller from the secretary of
|
|
state under Section 18.065 indicates that] the registrar is not in |
|
substantial compliance with Section 15.083, 16.032, or 18.065 or |
|
with rules implementing the registration service program. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to conform the bill to |
|
changes in law made by House Bill No. 2817, Acts of the 82nd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as effective September 1, 2011. |
|
(7) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, text of |
|
Article 24 of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and the |
|
corresponding article of the bill as the bill was amended by the |
|
house of representatives, relating to leasing certain state |
|
facilities, that reads: |
|
ARTICLE 24. FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING LEASING CERTAIN STATE |
|
FACILITIES |
|
SECTION 24.01. The heading to Section 2165.2035, Government |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2165.2035. LEASE OF SPACE IN STATE-OWNED PARKING LOTS |
|
AND GARAGES; USE AFTER HOURS. |
|
SECTION 24.02. Subchapter E, Chapter 2165, Government Code, |
|
is amended by adding Sections 2165.204, 2165.2045, and 2165.2046 to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2165.204. LEASE OF SPACE IN STATE-OWNED PARKING LOTS |
|
AND GARAGES; EXCESS INDIVIDUAL PARKING SPACES. (a) The commission |
|
may lease to a private individual an individual parking space in a |
|
state-owned parking lot or garage located in the city of Austin that |
|
the commission determines is not needed to accommodate the regular |
|
parking requirements of state employees who work near the lot or |
|
garage and visitors to nearby state government offices. |
|
(b) Money received from a lease under this section shall be |
|
deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund. |
|
(c) In leasing a parking space under Subsection (a), the |
|
commission must ensure that the lease does not restrict uses for |
|
parking lots and garages developed under Section 2165.2035, |
|
including special event parking related to institutions of higher |
|
education. |
|
(d) In leasing or renewing a lease for a parking space under |
|
Subsection (a), the commission shall give preference to an |
|
individual who is currently leasing or previously leased the |
|
parking space. |
|
Sec. 2165.2045. LEASE OF SPACE IN STATE-OWNED PARKING LOTS |
|
AND GARAGES; EXCESS BLOCKS OF PARKING SPACE. (a) The commission |
|
may lease to an institution of higher education or a local |
|
government all or a significant block of a state-owned parking lot |
|
or garage located in the city of Austin that the commission |
|
determines is not needed to accommodate the regular parking |
|
requirements of state employees who work near the lot or garage and |
|
visitors to nearby state government offices. |
|
(b) Money received from a lease under this section shall be |
|
deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund. |
|
(c) In leasing all or a block of a state-owned parking lot or |
|
garage under Subsection (a), the commission must ensure that the |
|
lease does not restrict uses for parking lots and garages developed |
|
under Section 2165.2035, including special event parking related to |
|
institutions of higher education. |
|
(d) In leasing or renewing a lease for all or a block of a |
|
state-owned parking lot or garage under Subsection (a), the |
|
commission shall give preference to an entity that is currently |
|
leasing or previously leased the lot or garage or a block of the lot |
|
or garage. |
|
Sec. 2165.2046. REPORTS ON PARKING PROGRAMS. On or before |
|
October 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit a |
|
report to the Legislative Budget Board describing the effectiveness |
|
of parking programs developed by the commission under this |
|
subchapter. The report must, at a minimum, include: |
|
(1) the yearly revenue generated by the programs; |
|
(2) the yearly administrative and enforcement costs of |
|
each program; |
|
(3) yearly usage statistics for each program; and |
|
(4) initiatives and suggestions by the commission to: |
|
(A) modify administration of the programs; and |
|
(B) increase revenue generated by the programs. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
largely duplicates or is in conflict with provisions of Senate Bill |
|
No. 1068, Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as |
|
effective June 17, 2011. |
|
(8) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Sections |
|
26.02, 26.03, 26.06, and 26.08 of the senate engrossment of Senate |
|
Bill No. 1 and the corresponding sections of the bill as the bill |
|
was amended by the house of representatives, relating to the review |
|
by the attorney general of invoices related to legal services |
|
provided to state agencies, that reads: |
|
SECTION 26.02. The heading to Section 402.0212, Government |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 402.0212. PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES--OUTSIDE |
|
COUNSEL; FEES. |
|
SECTION 26.03. Section 402.0212, Government Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections |
|
(d), (e), and (f) to read as follows: |
|
(b) An invoice submitted to a state agency under a contract |
|
for legal services as described by Subsection (a) must be reviewed |
|
by the attorney general to determine whether the invoice is |
|
eligible for payment. |
|
(c) An attorney or law firm must pay an administrative fee |
|
to the attorney general for the review described in Subsection (b) |
|
when entering into a contract to provide legal services to a state |
|
agency. |
|
(d) For purposes of this section, the functions of a hearing |
|
examiner, administrative law judge, or other quasi-judicial |
|
officer are not considered legal services. |
|
(e) [(c)] This section shall not apply to the Texas Turnpike |
|
Authority division of the Texas Department of Transportation. |
|
(f) The attorney general may adopt rules as necessary to |
|
implement and administer this section. |
|
SECTION 26.06. The fee prescribed by Section 402.0212, |
|
Government Code, as amended by this article, applies only to |
|
invoices for legal services submitted to the office of the attorney |
|
general for review on or after the effective date of this article. |
|
SECTION 26.08. The changes in law made by this article apply |
|
only to a contract for legal services between a state agency and a |
|
private attorney or law firm entered into on or after the effective |
|
date of this article. A contract for legal services between a state |
|
agency and a private attorney or law firm entered into before the |
|
effective date of this article is governed by the law in effect at |
|
the time the contract was entered into, and the former law is |
|
continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
largely duplicates or is in conflict with provisions of Senate Bill |
|
No. 367, Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as |
|
effective June 17, 2011. |
|
(9) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Sections |
|
26.04 and 26.07 of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and |
|
the corresponding sections of the bill as the bill was amended by |
|
the house of representatives, relating to the review by the |
|
attorney general of invoices related to legal services provided to |
|
state agencies, that reads: |
|
SECTION 26.04. Section 371.051, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 371.051. ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEW AND EXAMINATION FEE. |
|
(a) A toll project entity may not enter into a comprehensive |
|
development agreement unless the attorney general reviews the |
|
proposed agreement and determines that it is legally sufficient. |
|
(b) A toll project entity shall pay a nonrefundable |
|
examination fee to the attorney general on submitting a proposed |
|
comprehensive development agreement for review. At the time the |
|
examination fee is paid, the toll project entity shall also submit |
|
for review a complete transcript of proceedings related to the |
|
comprehensive development agreement. |
|
(c) If the toll project entity submits multiple proposed |
|
comprehensive development agreements relating to the same toll |
|
project for review, the entity shall pay the examination fee under |
|
Subsection (b) for each proposed comprehensive development |
|
agreement. |
|
(d) The attorney general shall provide a legal sufficiency |
|
determination not later than the 60th business day after the date |
|
the examination fee and transcript of the proceedings required |
|
under Subsection (b) are received. If the attorney general cannot |
|
provide a legal sufficiency determination within the |
|
60-business-day period, the attorney general shall notify the toll |
|
project entity in writing of the reason for the delay and may extend |
|
the review period for not more than 30 business days. |
|
(e) After the attorney general issues a legal sufficiency |
|
determination, a toll project entity may supplement the transcript |
|
of proceedings or amend the comprehensive development agreement to |
|
facilitate a redetermination by the attorney general of the prior |
|
legal sufficiency determination issued under this section. |
|
(f) The toll project entity may collect or seek |
|
reimbursement of the examination fee under Subsection (b) from the |
|
private participant. |
|
(g) The attorney general by rule shall set the examination |
|
fee required under Subsection (b) in a reasonable amount and may |
|
adopt other rules as necessary to implement this section. The fee |
|
may not be set in an amount that is determined by a percentage of the |
|
cost of the toll project. The amount of the fee may not exceed |
|
reasonable attorney's fees charged for similar legal services in |
|
the private sector. |
|
SECTION 26.07. The fee prescribed by Section 371.051, |
|
Transportation Code, as amended by this article, applies only to a |
|
comprehensive development agreement submitted to the office of the |
|
attorney general on or after the effective date of this article. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
largely duplicates or is in conflict with provisions of Senate Bill |
|
No. 731, Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as |
|
effective June 17, 2011. |
|
(10) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Sections 23.01-23.04 of the bill to add |
|
text on a matter which is not included in either the house or senate |
|
version of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 23.01. Section 572.054, Government Code, is amended |
|
by adding Subsection (g-1) to read as follows: |
|
(g-1) For purposes of this section, the Department of |
|
Information Resources is a regulatory agency. |
|
SECTION 23.02. Section 2054.005, Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2054.005. SUNSET PROVISION. (a) The Department of |
|
Information Resources is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset |
|
Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, |
|
the department is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, |
|
2013 [2011]. |
|
(b) The review of the Department of Information Resources by |
|
the Sunset Advisory Commission in preparation for the work of the |
|
83rd Legislature, Regular Session, is not limited to the |
|
appropriateness of recommendations made by the commission to the |
|
82nd Legislature. In the commission's report to the 83rd |
|
Legislature, the commission may include any recommendations it |
|
considers appropriate. |
|
SECTION 23.03. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 2054.064 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2054.064. BOARD APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS. The board by |
|
rule shall establish approval requirements for all contracts, |
|
including a monetary threshold above which board approval is |
|
required before the contract may be executed. |
|
SECTION 23.04. Subsection (b), Section 2054.376, |
|
Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) This subchapter does not apply to: |
|
(1) the Department of Public Safety's use for criminal |
|
justice or homeland security purposes of a federal database or |
|
network; |
|
(2) a Texas equivalent of a database or network |
|
described by Subdivision (1) that is managed by the Department of |
|
Public Safety; |
|
(3) the uniform statewide accounting system, as that |
|
term is used in Subchapter C, Chapter 2101; |
|
(4) the state treasury cash and treasury management |
|
system; [or] |
|
(5) a database or network managed by the comptroller |
|
to: |
|
(A) collect and process multiple types of taxes |
|
imposed by the state; or |
|
(B) manage or administer fiscal, financial, |
|
revenue, and expenditure activities of the state under Chapter 403 |
|
and Chapter 404; or |
|
(6) a database or network managed by the Department of |
|
Agriculture. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide for Sunset |
|
Advisory Commission review of and for functions and activities of |
|
the Department of Information Resources and to provide for the |
|
applicability of restrictions on certain activities by former |
|
employees of the Department of Information Resources. |
|
(11) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 23.06 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 23.06. Subsections (b) and (d), Section 2157.068, |
|
Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The department shall negotiate with vendors [to
|
|
attempt] to obtain the best value for the state in the purchase of |
|
commodity items. The department may consider strategic sourcing |
|
and other methodologies to select the vendor offering the best |
|
value on [a favorable price for all of state government on licenses
|
|
for] commodity items[, based on the aggregate volume of purchases
|
|
expected to be made by the state]. The terms and conditions of a |
|
license agreement between a vendor and the department under this |
|
section may not be less favorable to the state than the terms of |
|
similar license agreements between the vendor and retail |
|
distributors. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide authority |
|
for negotiations for the best value in commodity purchases. |
|
(12) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(1), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to alter text which is not in disagreement in proposed |
|
Section 26.01 of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 26.01. Subsection (c), Section 434.017, Government |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) Money in the fund may only be appropriated to the Texas |
|
Veterans Commission. Money appropriated under this subsection |
|
shall be used to: |
|
(1) make grants to address veterans' needs; [and] |
|
(2) administer the fund; and |
|
(3) analyze and investigate data received from the |
|
federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) |
|
that is administered by the Administration for Children and |
|
Families of the United States Department of Health and Human |
|
Services. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to conform the text to |
|
the change in law made by Senate Bill No. 1739, Acts of the 82nd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as effective June 17, 2011. |
|
(13) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 34.06 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 34.06. It is the intent of the legislature that the |
|
Legislative Budget Board place information on its Internet website |
|
that provides additional program detail for items of appropriation |
|
in the General Appropriations Act. The Legislative Budget Board |
|
shall include as additional program detail the specific programs |
|
funded, the source of that funding, and the related statutory |
|
authorization. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide for greater |
|
access to information regarding the state budget. |
|
(14) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(3), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to add text on a matter which is not in disagreement |
|
in proposed Section 35.02 of the bill by adding Section 314.002(d), |
|
Labor Code, to read as follows: |
|
(d) The commission, for the purposes of this section, may |
|
use: |
|
(1) money appropriated to the commission; and |
|
(2) money that is transferred to the commission from |
|
trusteed programs within the office of the governor, including: |
|
(A) appropriated money from the Texas Enterprise |
|
Fund; |
|
(B) available federal funds; and |
|
(C) money from other appropriate, statutorily |
|
authorized funding sources. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to clarify funding |
|
matters for purposes of the Texas Back to Work Program. |
|
(15) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 41.01 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or the senate |
|
version of the bill by adding amended Subsections (b), (c), and (e), |
|
Article 103.0033, Code of Criminal Procedure, to read as follows: |
|
(b) This article applies only to: |
|
(1) a [each] county with a population of 50,000 or |
|
greater; [in this state] and |
|
(2) a [to each] municipality with a population of |
|
100,000 or greater. |
|
(c) Unless granted a waiver under Subsection (h), each |
|
county and municipality shall develop and implement a program that |
|
complies with the prioritized implementation schedule under |
|
Subsection (h). [A county may develop and implement a program that
|
|
complies with the prioritized implementation schedule under
|
|
Subsection (h).] A county program must include district, county, |
|
and justice courts. |
|
(e) Not later than June 1 of each year, the office shall |
|
identify those counties and municipalities that: |
|
(1) have not implemented a program; and |
|
(2) are able [planning] to implement a program before |
|
April 1 of the following year. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to change the |
|
population of counties to which the Office of Court |
|
Administration's collection improvement program applies. |
|
(16) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(1), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to alter text which is not in disagreement in proposed |
|
Section 43.03 of the bill, added Section 2306.2585(c), Government |
|
Code, to read as follows: |
|
(c) The department may use any available revenue, including |
|
legislative appropriations, appropriation transfers from the |
|
trusteed programs within the office of the governor, including |
|
authorized appropriations from the Texas Enterprise Fund, |
|
available federal funds, and any other statutorily authorized and |
|
appropriate funding sources transferred from the trusteed programs |
|
within the office of the governor, for the purposes of this section. |
|
The department shall solicit and accept gifts and grants for the |
|
purposes of this section. The department shall use gifts and grants |
|
received for the purposes of this section before using any other |
|
revenue. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to clarify the funding |
|
sources available for purposes of the homeless housing and services |
|
program. |
|
(17) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Article 57 |
|
of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and the corresponding |
|
article of the bill as the bill was amended by the house of |
|
representatives, relating to the place of business of a retailer |
|
for sales tax purposes, that reads: |
|
ARTICLE 57. PLACE OF BUSINESS OF A RETAILER FOR SALES TAX PURPOSES |
|
SECTION 57.01. Subdivision (3), Subsection (a), Section |
|
321.002, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(3) "Place of business of the retailer" means an |
|
established outlet, office, or location operated by the retailer or |
|
the retailer's agent or employee for the purpose of receiving |
|
orders for taxable items and includes any location at which three or |
|
more orders are received by the retailer during a calendar year. A |
|
warehouse, storage yard, or manufacturing plant is not a "place of |
|
business of the retailer" unless at least three orders are received |
|
by the retailer during the calendar year at the warehouse, storage |
|
yard, or manufacturing plant. An outlet, office, facility, or any |
|
location that contracts with a retail or commercial business |
|
[engaged in activities to which this chapter applies] to process |
|
for that business invoices, purchase orders, [or] bills of lading, |
|
or other equivalent records onto which sales tax is added, |
|
including an office operated for the purpose of buying and selling |
|
taxable goods to be used or consumed by the retail or commercial |
|
business, is not a "place of business of the retailer" if the |
|
comptroller determines that the outlet, office, facility, or |
|
location functions or exists to avoid the tax imposed by this |
|
chapter or to rebate a portion of the tax imposed by this chapter to |
|
the contracting business. Notwithstanding any other provision of |
|
this subdivision, a kiosk is not a "place of business of the |
|
retailer." In this subdivision, "kiosk" means a small stand-alone |
|
area or structure that: |
|
(A) is used solely to display merchandise or to |
|
submit orders for taxable items from a data entry device, or both; |
|
(B) is located entirely within a location that is |
|
a place of business of another retailer, such as a department store |
|
or shopping mall; and |
|
(C) at which taxable items are not available for |
|
immediate delivery to a customer. |
|
SECTION 57.02. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
|
this section, this article takes effect October 1, 2011. |
|
(b) If H.B. No. 590, Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular |
|
Session, 2011, becomes law, this article has no effect. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
largely duplicates Section 1, House Bill No. 590, Acts of the 82nd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as effective September 1, 2011. |
|
(18) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Article 58 |
|
of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and the corresponding |
|
article of the bill as the bill was amended by the house of |
|
representatives, relating to farm and ranch lands conservation, |
|
that reads: |
|
ARTICLE 58. TEXAS FARM AND RANCH LANDS CONSERVATION PROGRAM |
|
SECTION 58.01. Subsection (b), Section 183.059, Natural |
|
Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) To receive a grant from the fund under this subchapter, |
|
an applicant who is qualified to be an easement holder under this |
|
subchapter must submit an application to the council. The |
|
application must: |
|
(1) set out the parties' clear conservation goals |
|
consistent with the program; |
|
(2) include a site-specific estimate-of-value |
|
appraisal by a licensed appraiser qualified to determine the market |
|
value of the easement; and |
|
(3) [demonstrate that the applicant is able to match
|
|
50 percent of the amount of the grant being sought, considering that
|
|
the council may choose to allow a donation of part of the appraised
|
|
value of the easement to be considered as in-kind matching funds;
|
|
and
|
|
[(4)] include a memorandum of understanding signed by |
|
the landowner and the applicant indicating intent to sell an |
|
agricultural conservation easement and containing the terms of the |
|
contract for the sale of the easement. |
|
SECTION 58.02. If S.B. No. 1044, Acts of the 82nd |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, becomes law, this article has |
|
no effect. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
largely duplicates provisions of Section 3, Senate Bill No. 1044, |
|
Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as effective |
|
June 17, 2011. |
|
(19) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(2), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee to omit text which is not in disagreement, Section |
|
60.02 of the senate engrossment of Senate Bill No. 1 and the |
|
corresponding section of the bill as the bill was amended by the |
|
house of representatives, that reads: |
|
SECTION 60.02. Subsection (a), Section 811.012, Government |
|
Code, as effective September 1, 2011, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Not later than June 1 of every fifth [each] year, the |
|
retirement system shall provide to the comptroller, for the purpose |
|
of assisting the comptroller in the identification of persons |
|
entitled to unclaimed property reported to the comptroller, the |
|
name, address, social security number, and date of birth of each |
|
member, retiree, and beneficiary from the retirement system's |
|
records. |
|
Explanation: The text is omitted as unnecessary because it |
|
duplicates the substance of Section 4, Senate Bill No. 1664, Acts of |
|
the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as effective September |
|
1, 2011. |
|
(20) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 61.02 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 61.02. Subchapter A, Chapter 30A, Education Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 30A.007 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 30A.007. LOCAL POLICY ON ELECTRONIC COURSES. (a) A |
|
school district or open-enrollment charter school shall adopt a |
|
policy that provides district or school students with the |
|
opportunity to enroll in electronic courses provided through the |
|
state virtual school network. The policy must be consistent with |
|
the requirements imposed by Section 26.0031. |
|
(b) For purposes of a policy adopted under Subsection (a), |
|
the determination of whether or not an electronic course will meet |
|
the needs of a student with a disability shall be made by the |
|
student's admission, review, and dismissal committee in a manner |
|
consistent with state and federal law, including the Individuals |
|
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.) |
|
and Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section |
|
794). |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide for |
|
consistent policies for student enrollment through the state |
|
virtual school network. |
|
(21) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 61.03 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 61.03. Subchapter C, Chapter 30A, Education Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 30A.1021 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 30A.1021. PUBLIC ACCESS TO USER COMMENTS REGARDING |
|
ELECTRONIC COURSES. (a) The administering authority shall |
|
provide students who have completed or withdrawn from electronic |
|
courses offered through the virtual school network and their |
|
parents with a mechanism for providing comments regarding the |
|
courses. |
|
(b) The mechanism required by Subsection (a) must include a |
|
quantitative rating system and a list of verbal descriptors that a |
|
student or parent may select as appropriate. |
|
(c) The administering authority shall provide public access |
|
to the comments submitted by students and parents under this |
|
section. The comments must be in a format that permits a person to |
|
sort the comments by teacher, electronic course, and provider |
|
school district or school. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to gather and |
|
disseminate information on students' and parents' experiences with |
|
the state virtual school network. |
|
(22) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Section 61.04 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 61.04. Section 30A.104, Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 30A.104. COURSE ELIGIBILITY IN GENERAL. (a) A course |
|
offered through the state virtual school network must: |
|
(1) be in a specific subject that is part of the |
|
required curriculum under Section 28.002(a); |
|
(2) be aligned with the essential knowledge and skills |
|
identified under Section 28.002(c) for a grade level at or above |
|
grade level three; and |
|
(3) be the equivalent in instructional rigor and scope |
|
to a course that is provided in a traditional classroom setting |
|
during: |
|
(A) a semester of 90 instructional days; and |
|
(B) a school day that meets the minimum length of |
|
a school day required under Section 25.082. |
|
(b) If the essential knowledge and skills with which an |
|
approved course is aligned in accordance with Subsection (a)(2) are |
|
modified, the provider school district or school must be provided |
|
the same time period to revise the course to achieve alignment with |
|
the modified essential knowledge and skills as is provided for the |
|
modification of a course provided in a traditional classroom |
|
setting. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary for the administration |
|
of changes in essential knowledge and skills applicable to an |
|
approved state virtual school network course. |
|
(23) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Sections 61.07, 61.08, and 61.09 of the |
|
bill to add text on a matter which is not included in either the |
|
house or senate version of the bill to read as follows: |
|
SECTION 61.07. Subchapter D, Chapter 30A, Education Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 30A.153 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 30A.153. FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) A |
|
school district or open-enrollment charter school in which a |
|
student is enrolled is entitled to funding under Chapter 42 for the |
|
student's enrollment in an electronic course offered through the |
|
state virtual school network in the same manner that the district or |
|
school is entitled to funding for the student's enrollment in |
|
courses provided in a traditional classroom setting, provided that |
|
the student successfully completes the electronic course. |
|
(b) The commissioner, after considering comments from |
|
school district and open-enrollment charter school |
|
representatives, shall adopt a standard agreement that governs |
|
payment of funds and other matters relating to a student's |
|
enrollment in an electronic course offered through the state |
|
virtual school network. The agreement may not require a school |
|
district or open-enrollment charter school to pay the provider the |
|
full amount until the student has successfully completed the |
|
electronic course. |
|
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
|
shall use the standard agreement adopted under Subsection (b) |
|
unless: |
|
(1) the district or school requests from the |
|
commissioner permission to modify the standard agreement; and |
|
(2) the commissioner authorizes the modification. |
|
(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
|
implement this section, including rules regarding attendance |
|
accounting. |
|
SECTION 61.08. Subsection (a), Section 42.302, Education |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Each school district is guaranteed a specified amount |
|
per weighted student in state and local funds for each cent of tax |
|
effort over that required for the district's local fund assignment |
|
up to the maximum level specified in this subchapter. The amount |
|
of state support, subject only to the maximum amount under Section |
|
42.303, is determined by the formula: |
|
GYA = (GL X WADA X DTR X 100) - LR |
|
where: |
|
"GYA" is the guaranteed yield amount of state funds to be |
|
allocated to the district; |
|
"GL" is the dollar amount guaranteed level of state and local |
|
funds per weighted student per cent of tax effort, which is an |
|
amount described by Subsection (a-1) or a greater amount for any |
|
year provided by appropriation; |
|
"WADA" is the number of students in weighted average daily |
|
attendance, which is calculated by dividing the sum of the school |
|
district's allotments under Subchapters B and C, less any allotment |
|
to the district for transportation, any allotment under Section |
|
42.158[, 42.159,] or 42.160, and 50 percent of the adjustment under |
|
Section 42.102, by the basic allotment for the applicable year; |
|
"DTR" is the district enrichment tax rate of the school |
|
district, which is determined by subtracting the amounts specified |
|
by Subsection (b) from the total amount of maintenance and |
|
operations taxes collected by the school district for the |
|
applicable school year and dividing the difference by the quotient |
|
of the district's taxable value of property as determined under |
|
Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code, or, if applicable, |
|
under Section 42.2521, divided by 100; and |
|
"LR" is the local revenue, which is determined by multiplying |
|
"DTR" by the quotient of the district's taxable value of property as |
|
determined under Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code, or, if |
|
applicable, under Section 42.2521, divided by 100. |
|
SECTION 61.09. Section 42.159, Education Code, is repealed. |
|
Explanation: The changes are necessary to clarify issues |
|
regarding funding for students enrolled in electronic courses |
|
offered through the state virtual school network. |
|
(24) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Article 66A of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
ARTICLE 66A. GUARDIANSHIP MATTERS AND PROCEEDINGS: AMENDMENTS TO |
|
ESTATES CODE |
|
SECTION 66A.01. Subpart B, Part 2, Subtitle Y, Title 3, |
|
Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended by adding |
|
Section 619 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 619. REVIEW OF TRANSFERRED GUARDIANSHIP. Not later |
|
than the 90th day after the date the transfer of the guardianship |
|
takes effect under Section 616, the court to which the guardianship |
|
was transferred shall hold a hearing to consider modifying the |
|
rights, duties, and powers of the guardian or any other provisions |
|
of the transferred guardianship. |
|
SECTION 66A.02. Section 1253.051, Estates Code, as |
|
effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 1253.051. APPLICATION FOR RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF |
|
FOREIGN GUARDIANSHIP. A guardian appointed by a foreign court to |
|
represent an incapacitated person who is residing in this state or |
|
intends to move to this state may file an application with a court |
|
in which the ward resides or intends to reside to have the |
|
guardianship transferred to the court. The application must have |
|
attached a certified copy of all papers of the guardianship filed |
|
and recorded in the foreign court. |
|
SECTION 66A.03. Section 1253.053, Estates Code, as |
|
effective January 1, 2014, is amended by amending Subsection (a) |
|
and adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
|
(a) The [On the court's own motion or on the motion of the
|
|
ward or any interested person, the] court shall hold a hearing to: |
|
(1) consider an application for receipt and acceptance |
|
of a foreign guardianship under this subchapter; and |
|
(2) consider modifying the administrative procedures |
|
or requirements of the proposed transferred guardianship in |
|
accordance with local and state law. |
|
(f) At the time of granting an application for receipt and |
|
acceptance of a foreign guardianship, the court may also modify the |
|
administrative procedures or requirements of the transferred |
|
guardianship in accordance with local and state law. |
|
SECTION 66A.04. Subsection (b), Section 1253.102, Estates |
|
Code, as effective January 1, 2014, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) In making a determination under Subsection (a), the |
|
court may consider: |
|
(1) the interests of justice; |
|
(2) the best interests of the ward or proposed ward; |
|
[and] |
|
(3) the convenience of the parties; and |
|
(4) the preference of the ward or proposed ward, if the |
|
ward or proposed ward is 12 years of age or older. |
|
SECTION 66A.05. Chapter 1253, Estates Code, as effective |
|
January 1, 2014, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as |
|
follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER D. DETERMINATION OF MOST APPROPRIATE FORUM FOR CERTAIN |
|
GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS |
|
Sec. 1253.151. DETERMINATION OF ACQUISITION OF |
|
JURISDICTION IN THIS STATE DUE TO UNJUSTIFIABLE CONDUCT. If at any |
|
time a court of this state determines that it acquired jurisdiction |
|
of a proceeding for the appointment of a guardian of the person or |
|
estate, or both, of a ward or proposed ward because of unjustifiable |
|
conduct, the court may: |
|
(1) decline to exercise jurisdiction; |
|
(2) exercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of |
|
fashioning an appropriate remedy to ensure the health, safety, and |
|
welfare of the ward or proposed ward or the protection of the ward's |
|
or proposed ward's property or prevent a repetition of the |
|
unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a |
|
petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a |
|
protective order is filed in a court of another state having |
|
jurisdiction; or |
|
(3) continue to exercise jurisdiction after |
|
considering: |
|
(A) the extent to which the ward or proposed ward |
|
and all persons required to be notified of the proceedings have |
|
acquiesced in the exercise of the court's jurisdiction; |
|
(B) whether the court of this state is a more |
|
appropriate forum than the court of any other state after |
|
considering the factors described by Section 1253.102(b); and |
|
(C) whether the court of any other state would |
|
have jurisdiction under the factual circumstances of the matter. |
|
Sec. 1253.152. ASSESSMENT OF EXPENSES AGAINST PARTY. (a) |
|
If a court of this state determines that it acquired jurisdiction of |
|
a proceeding for the appointment of a guardian of the person or |
|
estate, or both, of a ward or proposed ward because a party seeking |
|
to invoke the court's jurisdiction engaged in unjustifiable |
|
conduct, the court may assess against that party necessary and |
|
reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, investigative |
|
fees, court costs, communication expenses, witness fees and |
|
expenses, and travel expenses. |
|
(b) The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses of any |
|
kind against this state or a governmental subdivision, agency, or |
|
instrumentality of this state unless authorized by other law. |
|
SECTION 66A.06. The following are repealed: |
|
(1) Section 1253.054, Estates Code, as effective |
|
January 1, 2014; |
|
(2) the changes in law made by Sections 66.05 and 66.06 |
|
of this Act to Sections 892 and 894, Texas Probate Code; and |
|
(3) Section 895, Texas Probate Code, as added by |
|
Section 66.07 of this Act. |
|
SECTION 66A.07. This article takes effect January 1, 2014. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to conform the |
|
provisions of the Estates Code, as effective January 1, 2014, to the |
|
changes in law to be made by proposed Article 66 of the bill to the |
|
Texas Probate Code. |
|
(25) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Article 71 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
ARTICLE 71. CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS SERVICES MEDICAID WAIVER |
|
PROGRAM |
|
SECTION 71.01. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 531.0226 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 531.0226. CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS SERVICES MEDICAID |
|
WAIVER PROGRAM. (a) If feasible and cost-effective, the commission |
|
may apply for a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and |
|
Medicaid Services or another appropriate federal agency to more |
|
efficiently leverage the use of state and local funds in order to |
|
maximize the receipt of federal Medicaid matching funds by |
|
providing benefits under the Medicaid program to individuals who: |
|
(1) meet established income and other eligibility |
|
criteria; and |
|
(2) are eligible to receive services through the |
|
county for chronic health conditions. |
|
(b) In establishing the waiver program under this section, |
|
the commission shall: |
|
(1) ensure that the state is a prudent purchaser of the |
|
health care services that are needed for the individuals described |
|
by Subsection (a); |
|
(2) solicit broad-based input from interested |
|
persons; |
|
(3) ensure that the benefits received by an individual |
|
through the county are not reduced once the individual is enrolled |
|
in the waiver program; and |
|
(4) employ the use of intergovernmental transfers and |
|
other procedures to maximize the receipt of federal Medicaid |
|
matching funds. |
|
Explanation: The change is necessary to provide for prudent |
|
purchasing of services for chronic health conditions and to |
|
maximize receipt of federal Medicaid matching funds. |
|
(26) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Article 74 of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or the senate |
|
version of the bill to read as follows: |
|
ARTICLE 74. OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT |
|
OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS |
|
SECTION 74.01. Section 2306.022, Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2306.022. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Texas |
|
Department of Housing and Community Affairs is subject to Chapter |
|
325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided |
|
by that chapter, the department is abolished and this chapter |
|
expires September 1, 2013 [2011]. |
|
SECTION 74.02. Subsections (d-1) and (d-2), Section |
|
2306.111, Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(d-1) In allocating low income housing tax credit |
|
commitments under Subchapter DD, the department shall, before |
|
applying the regional allocation formula prescribed by Section |
|
2306.1115, set aside for at-risk developments, as defined by |
|
Section 2306.6702, not less than the minimum amount of housing tax |
|
credits required under Section 2306.6714. Funds or credits are not |
|
required to be allocated according to the regional allocation |
|
formula under Subsection (d) if: |
|
(1) the funds or credits are reserved for |
|
contract-for-deed conversions or for set-asides mandated by state |
|
or federal law and each contract-for-deed allocation or set-aside |
|
allocation equals not more than 10 percent of the total allocation |
|
of funds or credits for the applicable program; |
|
(2) the funds or credits are allocated by the |
|
department primarily to serve persons with disabilities; or |
|
(3) the funds are housing trust funds administered by |
|
the department under Sections 2306.201-2306.206 that are not |
|
otherwise required to be set aside under state or federal law and do |
|
not exceed $3 million for each programmed activity during each |
|
application cycle. |
|
(d-2) In allocating low income housing tax credit |
|
commitments under Subchapter DD, the department shall allocate five |
|
percent of the housing tax credits in each application cycle to |
|
developments that receive federal financial assistance through the |
|
Texas Rural Development Office of the United States Department of |
|
Agriculture. Any funds allocated to developments under this |
|
subsection that involve rehabilitation must come from the funds set |
|
aside for at-risk developments under Section 2306.6714 and any |
|
additional funds set aside for those developments under Subsection |
|
(d-1). This subsection does not apply to a development financed |
|
wholly or partly under Section 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 |
|
U.S.C. Section 1490p-2) unless the development involves the |
|
rehabilitation of an existing property that has received and will |
|
continue to receive as part of the financing of the development |
|
federal financial assistance provided under Section 515 of the |
|
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. Section 1485). |
|
SECTION 74.03. Section 2306.67022, Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 2306.67022. QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN; MANUAL. At |
|
least biennially, the [The] board [annually] shall adopt a |
|
qualified allocation plan and a corresponding manual to provide |
|
information regarding the administration of and eligibility for the |
|
low income housing tax credit program. The board may adopt the plan |
|
and manual annually, as considered appropriate by the board. |
|
SECTION 74.04. Subsections (b) and (f), Section 2306.6711, |
|
Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Not later than the deadline specified in the qualified |
|
allocation plan, the board shall issue commitments for available |
|
housing tax credits based on the application evaluation process |
|
provided by Section 2306.6710. The board may not allocate to an |
|
applicant housing tax credits in any unnecessary amount, as |
|
determined by the department's underwriting policy and by federal |
|
law, and in any event may not allocate to the applicant housing tax |
|
credits in an amount greater than $3 [$2] million in a single |
|
application round or to an individual development more than $2 |
|
million in a single application round. |
|
(f) The board may allocate housing tax credits to more than |
|
one development in a single community, as defined by department |
|
rule, in the same calendar year only if the developments are or will |
|
be located more than two [one] linear miles [mile] apart. This |
|
subsection applies only to communities contained within counties |
|
with populations exceeding one million. |
|
SECTION 74.05. Subsections (a), (b), and (c), Section |
|
2306.6724, Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Regardless of whether the board will adopt the plan |
|
annually or biennially [Not later than September 30 of each year], |
|
the department, not later than September 30 of the year preceding |
|
the year in which the new plan is proposed for use, shall prepare |
|
and submit to the board for adoption any proposed [the] qualified |
|
allocation plan required by federal law for use by the department in |
|
setting criteria and priorities for the allocation of tax credits |
|
under the low income housing tax credit program. |
|
(b) Regardless of whether the board has adopted the plan |
|
annually or biennially, the [The] board shall [adopt and] submit to |
|
the governor any proposed [the] qualified allocation plan not later |
|
than November 15 of the year preceding the year in which the new |
|
plan is proposed for use. |
|
[(c)] The governor shall approve, reject, or modify and |
|
approve the proposed qualified allocation plan not later than |
|
December 1. |
|
SECTION 74.06. Section 1201.104, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (a), (g), and (h) and adding |
|
Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (a-4) to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (g) [(e)], as a |
|
requirement for a manufacturer's, retailer's, broker's, |
|
installer's, salvage rebuilder's, or salesperson's license, a |
|
person who was not licensed or registered with the department or a |
|
predecessor agency on September 1, 1987, must, not more than 12 |
|
months before applying for the person's first license under this |
|
chapter, attend and successfully complete eight [20] hours of |
|
instruction in the law, including instruction in consumer |
|
protection regulations. |
|
(a-1) If the applicant is not an individual, the applicant |
|
must have at least one related person who satisfies the |
|
requirements of Subsection (a) [meets this requirement]. If that |
|
applicant is applying for a retailer's license, the related person |
|
must be a management official who satisfies the requirements of |
|
Subsections (a) and (a-2) at each retail location operated by the |
|
applicant. |
|
(a-2) An applicant for a retailer's license must complete |
|
four hours of specialized instruction relevant to the sale, |
|
exchange, and lease-purchase of manufactured homes. The |
|
instruction under this subsection is in addition to the instruction |
|
required under Subsection (a). |
|
(a-3) An applicant for an installer's license must complete |
|
four hours of specialized instruction relevant to the installation |
|
of manufactured homes. The instruction under this subsection is in |
|
addition to the instruction required under Subsection (a). |
|
(a-4) An applicant for a joint installer-retailer license |
|
must comply with Subsections (a-2) and (a-3), for a total of eight |
|
hours of specialized instruction. The instruction under this |
|
subsection is in addition to the instruction required under |
|
Subsection (a). |
|
(g) Subsections [Subsection] (a), (a-2), (a-3), and (a-4) |
|
do [does] not apply to a license holder who applies: |
|
(1) for a license for an additional business location; |
|
or |
|
(2) to renew or reinstate a license. |
|
(h) An examination must be a requirement of successful |
|
completion of any initial required course of instruction under this |
|
section. The period needed to complete an examination under this |
|
subsection may not be used to satisfy the minimum education |
|
requirements under Subsection (a), (a-2), (a-3), or (a-4). |
|
SECTION 74.07. Section 1201.303, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c), (d), |
|
(e), (f), and (g) to read as follows: |
|
(b) The department shall establish an installation |
|
inspection program in which at least 75 [25] percent of installed |
|
manufactured homes are inspected on a sample basis for compliance |
|
with the standards and rules adopted and orders issued by the |
|
director. The program must place priority on inspecting |
|
multisection homes and homes installed in Wind Zone II counties. |
|
(c) On or after January 1, 2015, the director by rule shall |
|
establish a third-party installation inspection program to |
|
supplement the inspections of the department if the department is |
|
not able to inspect at least 75 percent of manufactured homes |
|
installed in each of the calendar years 2012, 2013, and 2014. |
|
(d) The third-party installation inspection program |
|
established under Subsection (c) must: |
|
(1) establish qualifications for third-party |
|
inspectors to participate in the program; |
|
(2) require third-party inspectors to register with |
|
the department before participating in the program; |
|
(3) establish a biennial registration and renewal |
|
process for third-party inspectors; |
|
(4) require the list of registered third-party |
|
inspectors to be posted on the department's Internet website; |
|
(5) establish clear processes governing inspection |
|
fees and payment to third-party inspectors; |
|
(6) establish the maximum inspection fee that may be |
|
charged to a consumer; |
|
(7) require a third-party inspection to occur not |
|
later than the 14th day after the date of installation of the |
|
manufactured home; |
|
(8) establish a process for a retailer or broker to |
|
contract, as part of the sale of a new or used manufactured home, |
|
with an independent third-party inspector to inspect the |
|
installation of the home; |
|
(9) establish a process for an installer to schedule |
|
an inspection for each consumer-to-consumer sale where a home is |
|
reinstalled; |
|
(10) if a violation is noted in an inspection, require |
|
the installer to: |
|
(A) remedy the violations noted; |
|
(B) have the home reinspected at the installer's |
|
expense; and |
|
(C) certify to the department that all violations |
|
have been corrected; |
|
(11) require an inspector to report inspection results |
|
to the retailer, installer, and the department; |
|
(12) require all persons receiving inspection results |
|
under Subdivision (11) to maintain a record of the results at least |
|
until the end of the installation warranty period; |
|
(13) authorize the department to charge a filing fee |
|
and an inspection fee for third-party inspections; |
|
(14) authorize the department to continue to conduct |
|
no-charge complaint inspections under Section 1201.355 on request, |
|
but only after an initial installation inspection is completed; |
|
(15) establish procedures to revoke the registration |
|
of inspectors who fail to comply with rules adopted under this |
|
section; and |
|
(16) require the department to notify the relevant |
|
state agency if the department revokes an inspector registration |
|
based on a violation that is relevant to a license issued to the |
|
applicable person by another state agency. |
|
(e) Not later than January 1, 2015, the department shall |
|
submit to the Legislative Budget Board, the Governor's Office of |
|
Budget, Planning, and Policy, and the standing committee of each |
|
house of the legislature having primary jurisdiction over housing a |
|
report concerning whether the department inspected at least 75 |
|
percent of manufactured homes installed in each of the calendar |
|
years 2012, 2013, and 2014. |
|
(f) Not later than December 1, 2015, the director shall |
|
adopt rules as necessary to implement Subsections (c) and (d) if the |
|
department did not inspect at least 75 percent of manufactured |
|
homes installed in each of the calendar years 2012, 2013, and 2014. |
|
Not later than January 1, 2016, the department shall begin |
|
registering third-party inspectors under Subsections (c) and (d) if |
|
the department inspections did not occur as described by this |
|
subsection. |
|
(g) If the department is not required to establish a |
|
third-party installation inspection program as provided by |
|
Subsection (c), Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) and this |
|
subsection expire September 1, 2016. |
|
SECTION 74.08. The changes in law made by this article to |
|
Section 2306.6711, Government Code, apply only to an application |
|
for low income housing tax credits that is submitted to the Texas |
|
Department of Housing and Community Affairs during an application |
|
cycle that begins on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
|
application that is submitted during an application cycle that |
|
began before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
|
in effect at the time the application cycle began, and the former |
|
law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 74.09. The change in law made by this article in |
|
amending Section 1201.104, Occupations Code, applies only to an |
|
application for a license filed with the executive director of the |
|
manufactured housing division of the Texas Department of Housing |
|
and Community Affairs on or after the effective date of this |
|
article. An application for a license filed before that date is |
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed, |
|
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
Explanation: The changes are necessary to provide for the |
|
administration and Sunset Advisory Commission review of the Texas |
|
Department of Housing and Community Affairs, including the |
|
department's activities related to certain housing tax credits and |
|
the regulation of manufactured housing and mobile homes. |
|
(27) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
the committee in proposed Article 79A of the bill to add text on a |
|
matter which is not included in either the house or senate version |
|
of the bill to read as follows: |
|
ARTICLE 79A. CONFIDENTIALITY OF |
|
CERTAIN PEACE OFFICER VOUCHERS |
|
SECTION 79A.01. Subchapter H, Chapter 660, Government Code, |
|
is amended by adding Section 660.2035 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 660.2035. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN PEACE OFFICER |
|
VOUCHERS; QUARTERLY SUMMARIES. (a) A voucher or other expense |
|
reimbursement form, and any receipt or other document supporting |
|
that voucher or other expense reimbursement form, that is submitted |
|
or to be submitted under Section 660.027 is confidential under |
|
Chapter 552 for a period of 18 months following the date of travel |
|
if the voucher or other expense reimbursement form is submitted or |
|
is to be submitted for payment or reimbursement of a travel expense |
|
incurred by a peace officer while assigned to provide protection |
|
for an elected official of this state or a member of the elected |
|
official's family. |
|
(b) At the expiration of the period provided by Subsection |
|
(a), the voucher or other expense reimbursement form and any |
|
supporting documents become subject to disclosure under Chapter 552 |
|
and are not excepted from public disclosure or confidential under |
|
that chapter or other law, except that the following provisions of |
|
that chapter apply to the information in the voucher, reimbursement |
|
form, or supporting documents: |
|
(1) Section 552.117; |
|
(2) Section 552.1175; |
|
(3) Section 552.119; |
|
(4) Section 552.136; |
|
(5) Section 552.137; |
|
(6) Section 552.147; and |
|
(7) Section 552.151. |
|
(c) A state agency that submits vouchers or other expense |
|
reimbursement forms described by Subsection (a) shall prepare |
|
quarterly a summary of the amounts paid or reimbursed by the |
|
comptroller based on those vouchers or other expense reimbursement |
|
forms. Each summary must: |
|
(1) list separately for each elected official the |
|
final travel destinations and the total amounts paid or reimbursed |
|
in connection with protection provided to each elected official and |
|
that elected official's family members; and |
|
(2) itemize the amounts listed under Subdivision (1) |
|
by the categories of travel, fuel, food, lodging or rent, and other |
|
operating expenses. |
|
(d) The itemized amounts under Subsection (c)(2) must equal |
|
the total amount listed under Subsection (c)(1) for each elected |
|
official for the applicable quarter. |
|
(e) A summary prepared under Subsection (c) may not include: |
|
(1) the number or names of the peace officers or |
|
elected official's family members identified in the vouchers, |
|
expense reimbursement forms, or supporting documents; |
|
(2) the name of any business or vendor identified in |
|
the vouchers, expense reimbursement forms, or supporting |
|
documents; or |
|
(3) the locations in which expenses were incurred, |
|
other than the city, state, and country in which incurred. |
|
(f) A summary prepared under Subsection (c) is subject to |
|
disclosure under Chapter 552, except as otherwise excepted from |
|
disclosure under that chapter. |
|
(g) A state agency that receives a request for information |
|
described by Subsection (a) during the period provided by that |
|
subsection may withhold that information without the necessity of |
|
requesting a decision from the attorney general under Subchapter G, |
|
Chapter 552. The Supreme Court of Texas has original and exclusive |
|
mandamus jurisdiction over any dispute regarding the construction, |
|
applicability, or constitutionality of Subsection (a). The supreme |
|
court may appoint a master to assist in the resolution of any such |
|
dispute as provided by Rule 171, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and |
|
may adopt additional rules as necessary to govern the procedures |
|
for the resolution of any such dispute. |
|
SECTION 79A.02. Section 660.2035, Government Code, as added |
|
by this article, applies according to its terms in relation to |
|
travel vouchers or other reimbursement form and any supporting |
|
documents that pertain to expenses incurred or paid on or after the |
|
effective date of this article. |
|
Explanation: The changes are necessary to provide for |
|
confidentiality and disclosure requirements for vouchers submitted |
|
for expenses incurred by a peace officer while assigned to provide |
|
protection for an elected official of this state or a member of the |
|
elected official's family. |