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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a select committee to evaluate the |
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effects of a reduction in or the elimination of federal funding on |
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the state budget due to federal fiscal policy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 10, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 2116 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2116. SELECT COMMITTEE ON BUDGET DEPENDENCE ON FEDERAL |
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FUNDING |
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Sec. 2116.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "committee" |
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means the Select Committee on Budget Dependence on Federal Funding. |
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Sec. 2116.002. COMPOSITION. (a) The committee is composed |
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of: |
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(1) four members of the senate, including members from |
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different political parties, appointed by the lieutenant governor |
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based on seniority; |
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(2) four members of the house of representatives, |
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including members from different political parties, appointed by |
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the speaker of the house of representatives based on seniority; |
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(3) a representative of a nonprofit or charitable |
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organization appointed by the governor; |
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(4) a representative of an advocacy organization |
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focused on state and federal fiscal matters appointed by the |
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governor; |
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(5) a representative of the Legislative Budget Board |
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appointed by the Legislative Budget Board; and |
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(6) a representative of the comptroller's office, |
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appointed by the comptroller. |
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(b) The committee shall elect a presiding officer from among |
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its members. |
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Sec. 2116.003. COMPENSATION. A committee member serves |
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without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual |
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and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a |
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committee member, subject to any applicable limitation on |
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reimbursement provided by general law or the General Appropriations |
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Act. |
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Sec. 2116.004. COMMITTEE DUTIES. The committee shall: |
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(1) meet at the call of the presiding officer; |
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(2) conduct a study on: |
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(A) the percentage of the state budget that is |
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funded by federal money; and |
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(B) the effects on the state budget if federal |
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fiscal policy necessitates a significant reduction in or the |
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elimination of federal funding for state governments; and |
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(3) create a plan to address the loss of federal money, |
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including federal Medicaid matching money and federal social |
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security payments, and maintain benefit programs and other |
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essential state services if federal fiscal policy necessitates a |
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significant reduction in or the elimination of federal funding for |
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state governments. |
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Sec. 2116.005. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2016, |
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the committee shall submit a report based on its findings to: |
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(1) the governor; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor; and |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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Sec. 2116.006. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires and the |
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committee is abolished December 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2015, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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the governor, the comptroller of public accounts, and the |
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Legislative Budget Board shall make the appointments and |
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designations required by Section 2116.002(a), Government Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than November 1, 2015, the governor shall call |
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the first meeting of the Select Committee on Budget Dependence on |
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Federal Funding to permit the committee to elect a presiding |
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officer as required by Section 2116.002(b), Government Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |