BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2476

By: Davis, Sarah

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that the current prohibition against certain public agencies tasked with regional waste disposal entering into a contingent fee contract for legal services under the Professional Services Procurement Act without review and approval of the contract by the comptroller of public accounts unnecessarily costs the state time and money. H.B. 2476 seeks to increase efficiency by only requiring comptroller review and approval of such a contract if the purpose of entering into the contract is to bring a suit under the Water Code in which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is a necessary and indispensable party.

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. 2476 amends the Government Code to limit the applicability of the prohibition against a public agency, as defined by the Regional Waste Disposal Act, entering into a contingent fee contract for legal services under the Professional Services Procurement Act without review and approval of the comptroller of public accounts to a public agency entering into such a contract to bring a suit under the Water Code in which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is a necessary and indispensable party.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.