BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1247

By: Callegari

Government Efficiency & Reform

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Approximately 25 years ago, the Texas Legislature enacted a statute regulating the sizes of paper and filing cabinets a state agency may purchase.  According to the applicable bill analysis and fiscal notes, the legislature's intent was to standardize paper sizes across state agencies.  The law prohibits a state agency from purchasing forms, bond paper, stationary pads, or other similar paper supplies larger than 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size and from purchasing filing cabinets designed to hold paper larger than 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size.  The statute provides limited exceptions, such as for forms from the federal government, historical documents, artwork, diplomas, budgets, and other documents. 

The statute is an example of legislative micro-management of state agency operations, imposing a requirement that unnecessarily clutters and complicates state law without accruing any fiscal advantage to the state.  H.B. 1247 eliminates the regulation on the types of paper and filing cabinets that a state agency may purchase.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1247 repeals Section 2051.021, Government Code, relating to a prohibition on purchases by a state agency of forms, bond paper, stationery, pads, or similar paper supplies that exceed 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size or a filing cabinet designed to store completed documents that exceed those dimensions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.