By: Callegari H.B. No. 3706
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to measures in anticipation of federal legislation that
  would recognize the sovereignty of the states by providing each
  state with autonomy in determining whether and to what extent
  certain federal programs or mandates would apply in that state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Tile 3, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 329 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 329. STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL LAW
  RECOGNIZING STATE SOVEREIGNTY
         Sec. 329.001.  PURPOSE OF CHAPTER. The purpose of this
  chapter is to examine the manner in which the legislature and this
  state would exercise their rights, and to recommend any changes in
  state law required for that purpose, in the event that the United
  States Congress enacts federal legislation that:
               (1)  would grant the individual states the authority to
  choose whether to participate in any federal grant program that
  imposes requirements as a condition of the receipt of a federal
  grant or whether to modify the conditions under which the state
  would receive a grant, such as the proposed Restoration of State
  Sovereignty Act of 2010 (H.R. 5903), that was introduced in the
  111th Congress, Second Session; or
               (2)  in any other manner would give the individual
  states the right or authority to determine whether or to what extent
  any federal program or federal mandate would apply to that state.
         Sec. 329.002.  STATE SOVEREIGNTY OVERSIGHT WORK GROUP. (a)
  For purposes of this chapter, the lieutenant governor and the
  speaker of the house of representatives may jointly establish the
  state sovereignty oversight work group composed of members of each
  house of the legislature and any additional members those officers
  jointly determine appropriate. For that purpose, those officers
  may designate one or more standing committees of each house to be
  included in the work group.
         (b)  The work group shall identify, monitor, and analyze any
  pending or enacted federal legislation described by Section 329.001
  in order to:
                     (A)  provide officials and other citizens of this
  state with information necessary to communicate effectively with
  Congress regarding the legislation and its implementation by this
  state;
                     (B)  help public officials of this state to
  anticipate and prepare for the possible implementation of the
  legislation; and
                     (C)  identify or recommend changes in law that
  would be necessary for the effective exercise by this state of any
  rights and authority that may be granted by that legislation.
         (c)  The work group may request the assistance of state
  agencies in identifying programs that may be affected by that
  legislation and the potential fiscal or administrative
  ramifications of that legislation.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.