AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 1773 creates a select interim committee to study the effectiveness of laws and regulations related to ethics, including campaign finance, lobby laws, and personal financial disclosure laws.  The composition of the committee consists of three state senators, three state representatives, two public members, and the presiding officer of the Texas Ethics Commission.  No later than December 20, 2014, the committee is required to submit a report with recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house, and the governor.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1773 amends current law relating to a select committee to review and make recommendations for substantive changes to laws overseen by the Texas Ethics Commission.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. INTERIM STUDY REGARDING TEXAS ETHICS LAWS.

 

(a)  Creates a select interim committee to study and review the laws and regulations related to Texas ethics laws, including campaign finance laws, lobby laws, and the personal financial disclosure laws.

 

(b)  Requires that the study consider the purposes of the current laws and whether the statutes accomplish those purposes; the effectiveness of the current laws; and what changes, if any, should be made to more effectively accomplish the purposes of the laws.

 

(c)  Provides that the committee is composed of three senators and one member of the public appointed by the lieutenant governor, three state representatives and one member of the public appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) as of the effective date of this Act.

 

(d)  Requires the committee to convene at the call of the presiding officer.

 

(e)  Provides that the committee has all other powers and duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B (Legislative Reorganization Act), Chapter 301, Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on administration.

 

(f)  Requires the committee, not later than December 20, 2014, to report the committee's findings and recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor.  Requires the committee to include in its recommendations specific statutory and rule changes that appear necessary from the results of the committee's study under Subsection (a) of this section.

 

(g)  Requires the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of the TEC to appoint the members of the committee created under this section not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act.

 

(h)  Requires the Texas Legislative Council and the Texas Ethics Commission to provide any necessary staff and resources to the committee created under this section.

 

SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. Provides that the committee is abolished and this Act expires December 21, 2014.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2013.