BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 372

By: Seliger

Government Efficiency & Reform

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill proposes to streamline the reporting duties of the Office of the Attorney General. The bill amends current law relating to certain reports, communications, publications, and other documents involving the attorney general in an effort to prevent duplicative or unnecessary reporting.

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

The bill amends the Education Code, to require the president of each institution of higher education, rather than the attorney general and the president of each institution of higher education, to collect all necessary data for inclusion in the report required by this section.

The bill amends the Family Code, to delete existing text requiring a Title IV-D agency to report to the legislature each biennium on the progress and impact of the Title IV-D agency's efforts to use private contractors to perform Title IV-D program functions.

The bill amends the Government Code, to require each district and county attorney to notify the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller), rather than the attorney general and comptroller, of his post office address as soon as practicable after his election and qualification.

The bill Amends the Health and Safety Code by requiring the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), rather than DADS and the attorney general each, to prepare annually a full report of the operation and administration of DADS's responsibilities, rather than DADS's and the attorney general's respective responsibilities, under this chapter, including recommendations and suggestions considered advisable.  The bill also requires DADS, rather than DADS and the attorney general, to file a copy of the quarterly reports required by this section with the substantive committees of each house of the legislature with jurisdiction over regulation of assisted living facilities.

The bill amends the Tax Code to require the municipality or county to send a copy of a report made under this section to the comptroller, rather than to the attorney general and the comptroller.

The bill repeals the following provisions:

· Subsection (e), Section 236.002, Family Code;

· Section 402.034, Government Code;

· Section 481.168, Government Code;

· Section 2107.005, Government Code;

· Subsection (b), Section 247.050, Health and Safety Code;

· Section 240.903, Local Government Code; and

· Section 395.082, Local Government Code.

The bill makes conforming and non-substantive changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2011.