BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 8

By: Otto

Appropriations

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that most state and federal funds currently are deposited into the state's general revenue fund. H.B. 8 seeks to provide for increased fiscal transparency by separating the two sources of revenue into two accounts without affecting the collection or use of federal funds by lawmakers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 8 amends the Government Code to prohibit the comptroller of public accounts from depositing money received from the federal government, or accrued interest or other earnings on money received from the federal government, to the credit of the general revenue fund. The bill requires the comptroller to account for and administer federal money separately from money in the general revenue fund in a manner that ensures federal money and earnings on federal money are used for the purposes for which federal money is received. The bill establishes that these provisions prevail over other general law that provides for the deposit of money received from the federal government, or earnings on money received from the federal government, to the credit of the general revenue fund or to the credit of an account in that fund.

H.B. 8 authorizes the comptroller to establish a special fund in the treasury for the purpose of holding money received from the federal government for deposit to the state treasury and any interest or other earnings on the federal money.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.