BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1596

By: Lozano

Government Transparency & Operation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that political subdivisions should itemize public notice expenditures in their proposed budgets in order to increase transparency. H.B. 1596 seeks to require such itemization.

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

H.B. 1596 amends the Local Government Code to require the proposed budget of a political subdivision to include a line item indicating expenditures for notices required by law to be published in a newspaper by the political subdivision or a representative of the political subdivision that allows as clear a comparison as practicable between those expenditures in the proposed budget and actual expenditures for the same purpose in the preceding year. The bill applies only to a proposed budget for a fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.