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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2627

By: Coleman

State Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Recent reports predict that the population of Texas will double in fewer than 40 years, making information relating to population growth increasingly important. Interested parties observe that there is a lack of information about the impact population growth is having on Texas counties in areas such as housing, business, available land resources, health care services, county jails, and the local and state economies in general. The parties believe that, with more information about this issue, the legislature can respond more effectively to the state's population growth. C.S.H.B. 2627 seeks to create a task force to study population growth as it relates to Texas counties.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 2627 creates the Task Force to Study Population Growth in Texas for the purpose of assessing the effects of population growth on counties in Texas relating to housing, businesses, available land resources, the state's economy, health care services, and county jails. The bill requires the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives to provide staff support to the task force and requires the task force to hold public hearings to achieve its described purpose. The bill sets out the composition of the task force and requires the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker to make task force appointments as prescribed by the bill not later than December 1, 2015. The bill provides for the election of the presiding officer of the task force, establishes that a task force member serves without compensation, entitles a task force member to reimbursement of certain travel expenses, and authorizes the task force to accept gifts and grants from any source for task force functions. The bill requires the task force, not later than November 1, 2016, to submit a final report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature that includes a summary and analysis of hearings and studies conducted by the task force, legislation proposed by the task force, and other findings and recommendations made by the task force. The bill establishes that its provisions expire and the task force is abolished August 31, 2017.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2627 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  TASK FORCE TO STUDY POPULATION GROWTH IN TEXAS. 

(a)  In this Act, "task force" means the Task Force to Study Population Growth in Texas established under this section.

(b)  The Task Force to Study Population Growth in Texas is established for the purpose of assessing the effects of population growth in this state on:

 

(1)  housing;

(2)  businesses in this state;

(3)  available land resources; and

(4)  the state's economy.

 

 

(c)  The task force is composed of the following nine  members:

(1)  three state or local officials appointed by the governor;

(2)  three state or local officials appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3)  three state or local officials appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d)  The members of the task force shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership.

(e)  The offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall provide staff support to the task force.

(f)  The task force shall hold public hearings to achieve the purpose described by Subsection (b) of this section.

(g)  A member of the task force is not entitled to receive compensation for service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the task force.

(h)  The task force may accept gifts and grants from any source to be used to carry out a function of the task force.

SECTION 1.  TASK FORCE TO STUDY POPULATION GROWTH IN TEXAS.  (a)  In this Act, "task force" means the Task Force to Study Population Growth in Texas established under this section.

(b)  The Task Force to Study Population Growth in Texas is established for the purpose of assessing the effects of population growth on counties in this state relating to:

(1)  housing;

(2)  businesses;

(3)  available land resources;

(4)  the state's economy;

(5)  health care services; and

(6)  county jails.

(c)  The task force is composed of the following nine  members:

(1)  three state or local officials appointed by the governor;

(2)  three state or local officials appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3)  three state or local officials appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d)  The members of the task force shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership.

(e)  The offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall provide staff support to the task force.

(f)  The task force shall hold public hearings to achieve the purpose described by Subsection (b) of this section.

(g)  A member of the task force is not entitled to receive compensation for service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the task force.

(h)  The task force may accept gifts and grants from any source to be used to carry out a function of the task force.

SECTION 2.  FINAL REPORT.  Not later than November 1, 2016, the task force shall submit a final report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.  The report shall include a summary and analysis of:

(1)  hearings and studies conducted by the task force;

(2)  legislation proposed by the task force; and

(3)  other findings and recommendations made by the task force.

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 3.  APPOINTMENTS.  Not later than December 1, 2015, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall make the appointments to the task force as described by Section 1(c) of this Act.

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION.  The task force is abolished and this Act expires August 31, 2017.

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2015.

SECTION 5. Same as introduced version.