BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 787

By: Miller, Rick

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that, with an upcoming Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) study, the responsibility of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission to assist Texas' many military installations in meeting economic challenges is more important than ever. These parties further note that in a recent review of the commission by the Sunset Advisory Commission, the administrative structure of the commission was identified as in need of improvement and that the commission could maximize its assistance to the military community through greater correspondence with the office of the governor. H.B. 787 seeks to take additional strides in responding to sunset recommendations and enhance the ability of the commission to focus on assisting in the economic development, preservation, and growth of Texas military and defense communities.

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 rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office is transferred to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission in SECTION 9 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 787 amends the Government Code to transfer the Texas Military Preparedness Commission from the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office (TEDTO) to the office of the governor and to change the entity to which the commission is required to report from the executive director of TEDTO to the governor or the governor's designee. The bill subjects the commission to the Texas Sunset Act and establishes that, unless continued in existence as provided by that act, the commission is abolished and the statutory provisions governing the commission expire September 1, 2027. The bill establishes that the director of the commission serves at the will of the commission.

H.B. 787 transfers from TEDTO to the commission certain functions relating to the provision of loans and financial assistance for defense community projects and also transfers from TEDTO to the commission the express authority to assist local governmental entities in obtaining certain defense-related grants made by the commission. The bill transfers rulemaking authority relating to defense community loans from TEDTO to the commission and establishes that a rule, policy, procedure, or decision of TEDTO with respect to functions that are transferred to the commission under the bill's provisions continues in effect as a rule, policy, procedure, or decision of the commission until superseded by an act of the commission.  

H.B. 787 repeals Section 436.001(5) of the Government Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.