By: Kolkhorst  S.B. No. 398
         (In the Senate - Filed December 21, 2016; February 1, 2017,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Administration;
  April 6, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
  Nays 0; April 6, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a study conducted by the State Auditor's Office to
  compare the projected cost estimate attached to certain bills and
  resolutions to the actual cost to the state of the bills and
  resolutions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 321.0139 to read as follows:
         Sec. 321.0139.  STUDY ON ACTUAL COST OF BILLS AND
  RESOLUTIONS. (a)  The State Auditor shall conduct a study to
  compare the probable cost estimate in fiscal notes prepared by the
  Legislative Budget Board and attached to bills or resolutions in
  accordance with Chapter 314 with the actual cost to the state of the
  bills or resolutions.
         (b)  In conducting the study under this section, the State
  Auditor shall:
               (1)  select for cost comparison a random sample set
  consisting of 10 percent of fiscal notes prepared by the
  Legislative Budget Board from the preceding five regular
  legislative sessions that:
                     (A)  projected a cost to the state; and
                     (B)  were attached to bills or resolutions that
  took effect; and
               (2)  develop a system to determine the actual cost to
  the state associated with a bill or resolution that took effect.
         (c)  Not later than September 1, 2018, the State Auditor
  shall deliver the results of the study conducted under this section
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, the House Appropriations Committee, and the
  Senate Finance Committee.
         (d)  This section expires December 31, 2018.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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