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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a review of state laws requiring an action or proceeding |
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to be brought in Travis County or a Travis County court. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 325, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 325.0235 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 325.0235. REVIEW OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS. (a) The |
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commission shall review the laws of this state to identify each |
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statute and state agency rule that requires an action or proceeding |
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to be brought or considered in Travis County, a Travis County |
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district or statutory county court, or the Court of Appeals for the |
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Third Court of Appeals District. |
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(b) The commission shall make recommendations on whether |
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the location of the action or proceeding in each statute or state |
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agency rule identified under Subsection (a) serves a legitimate |
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state purpose, other than the convenience of the state agency, that |
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supersedes the interests of persons required to travel to Travis |
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County to attend or participate in the action or proceeding or |
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whether the identified statute or state agency rule should be |
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revised to authorize an action or proceeding to be brought or |
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considered in another county in this state. If the commission |
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recommends authorization of the action or proceeding in another |
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county, the commission shall estimate any additional costs to this |
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state that would be incurred in implementing the revision. |
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(c) The commission shall prepare a report on the statutes |
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and state agency rules identified under Subsection (a) and the |
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recommendations made and costs determined under Subsection (b) and |
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post the report on the commission's Internet website not later than |
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December 1, 2016. The commission shall submit an electronic copy of |
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the report prepared under this subsection to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(d) The Texas Legislative Council shall assist the |
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commission in identifying the statutes and state agency rules under |
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Subsection (a) and the Legislative Budget Board shall assist the |
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commission in estimating any additional costs to this state that |
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would be incurred in implementing the recommendations made under |
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Subsection (b). |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |