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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to strategic fiscal reviews of state agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 322.007, Government Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 322.007. ESTIMATES, [AND] REPORTS, AND INFORMATION. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 322.007(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Each institution, department, agency, officer, |
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employee, or agent of the state shall submit: |
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(1) any estimate or report relating to appropriations |
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requested by the board or under the board's direction; and |
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(2) any information requested by the board in |
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connection with a strategic fiscal review. |
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(b) Each estimate, [or] report, or item of information shall |
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be submitted at a time set by the board and in the manner and form |
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prescribed by board rules. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 322.0175 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 322.0175. STRATEGIC FISCAL REVIEWS OF STATE AGENCIES. |
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(a) Not later than September 1 of each odd-numbered year, the |
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director shall recommend to the board state agencies to undergo |
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strategic fiscal review before the next regular legislative |
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session. |
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(b) The board shall select the state agencies to undergo |
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strategic fiscal review and conduct the reviews with the assistance |
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of the director. |
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(c) Not later than the seventh day after the date a regular |
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legislative session convenes, the board shall submit to the |
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legislature written reports of the findings of each strategic |
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fiscal review conducted by the board since the previous legislative |
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session. |
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(d) The board shall include in the written report of the |
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findings of a strategic fiscal review: |
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(1) a description of the discrete activities the state |
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agency is charged with conducting or performing together with: |
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(A) a justification for each activity by |
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reference to a statute or other legal authority; and |
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(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness and |
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efficiency of the state agency's policies, management, fiscal |
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affairs, and operations in relation to each activity; |
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(2) for each activity identified under Subdivision |
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(1): |
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(A) a quantitative estimate of any adverse |
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effects that reasonably may be expected to result if the activity |
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were discontinued, together with a description of the methods by |
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which the adverse effects were estimated; |
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(B) an itemized account of expenditures required |
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to maintain the activity at the minimum level of service or |
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performance required by the statute or other legal authority, |
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together with a concise statement of the quantity and quality of |
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service or performance required at that minimum level; and |
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(C) an itemized account of expenditures required |
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to maintain the activity at the current level of service or |
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performance, together with a concise statement of the quantity and |
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quality of service or performance provided at that current level; |
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(3) a ranking of activities identified under |
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Subdivision (1) that illustrates the relative importance of each |
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activity to the overall goals and purposes of the state agency at |
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current service or performance levels; and |
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(4) recommendations to the legislature regarding |
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whether the legislature should continue funding each activity |
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identified under Subdivision (1) and, if so, at what level. |
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(e) The legislature may consider reports of the findings of |
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strategic fiscal reviews in connection with the legislative |
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appropriation process. |
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(f) The legislature may consider a state agency's |
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compliance with the strategic fiscal review process in making |
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appropriations to that agency. |
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(g) Until the board has completed a strategic fiscal review |
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under this section, all information, documentary or otherwise, |
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prepared or maintained in conducting the strategic fiscal review or |
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preparing the strategic fiscal review report, including |
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intra-agency and interagency communications and drafts of the |
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strategic fiscal review report or portions of those drafts, is |
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excepted from required public disclosure as audit working papers |
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under Section 552.116. This subsection does not affect whether |
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information described by this subsection is confidential or |
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excepted from required public disclosure under a law other than |
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Section 552.116. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |