By: Strama, Anchia (Senate Sponsor - Van de Putte) H.B. No. 3255
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 27, 2011;
  May 4, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 9, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 9, 2011, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of guidelines for the Office of the State
  Demographer to encourage the inclusion of a broad variety of
  racial/ethnic groups in estimates and projections.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 468.004, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 468.004.  POWERS AND DUTIES. The state demographer
  shall:
               (1)  disseminate demographic and related socioeconomic
  data to the public, with emphasis on data that may be useful to
  public policymakers;
               (2)  provide annual population estimates for all
  counties and municipalities in the state;
               (3)  provide biennial population projections for the
  state and all counties of the state;
               (4)  adhere to current standards of practice when
  determining which racial/ethnic groups to include in estimates and
  projections;
               (5)  provide information by request which justifies the
  omission of any particular racial/ethnic group from estimates and
  projections, including limitations of data and methodology;
               (6) [(4)]  provide information to the legislature
  relating to the impact that demographic and socioeconomic changes
  in the population of the state have on the demand for state
  services; and
               (7) [(5)]  evaluate the type and quality of data needed
  to:
                     (A)  adequately monitor demographic and
  socioeconomic changes in the population of the state; and
                     (B)  assess the effectiveness of delivery of state
  services.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2011.
 
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